BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Keystone Heights City Council members voted unanimously to hire Col. James Booth as their interim city manager while they search for a permanent replacement for Charlie Van Zant, who is leaving for a similar job in the Pinellas County enclave of Treasure Island.
Booth and former Council Member and Mayor Tony Brown were the only two applicants for the job.
Several audience members spoke on Brown’s behalf, emphasizing his deep roots in the community and his prior government service, as well as his long-time service with the Keystone Heights Volunteer Fire Department.
Brown talked about his extensive experience in Keystone Heights government, including his role in drafting city budgets since 1996.
Booth has worked for the city as a project manager over the past eight months, following his retirement as the Jacksonville District Director for the Army Corps of Engineers.
During that time, he spearheaded the city’s effort to clear trees from the dry lakebed of Lake Geneva. He has also worked on the city’s strategic plan, comprehensive plan, community redevelopment plan, the Nightingale Street culvert repair project, and other initiatives.
He served for 27 years as an engineer in the Army with three combat deployments in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He told council members he has had as many as 400 soldiers under his command.
He also has extensive experience in hurricane recovery efforts.
Throughout the meeting, council members talked like Booth’s selection was a foregone conclusion. Brown picked up on that tone toward the end of the session.
“It’s obvious you guys have already made your decision and…you made it before you walked through the door…” Brown told council members. “…I think you’re wasting your time. Go ahead and make the vote. Let’s get out of here.”
