The Watkinsville City Council has hired Athens-Clarke County Commissioner Sharyn Dickerson as its first-ever city administrator, according to the Oconee Enterprise.

“I’m super, super excited about the vision this mayor and council have,” Dickerson told the Enterprise. “I’m so grateful for the meaningful, thoughtful, deliberative process that the mayor and council have gone through to bring someone in. It’s a dream job; it’s my dream job, and I look forward to serving the community.” 

Dickerson is an environmental consultant and has also served as recycling coordinator and assistant solid waste director for Athens-Clarke County. She has an undergraduate degree in business administration and a master's degree in public administration from UGA.

The District 1 representative was defeated by Patrick Davenport in the May election and will leave office at the end of the year.

Dickerson will earn $74,000 a year as city administrator, a position reporting to Mayor Dave Shearon that the council created in response to growth and increasing responsibilities for city employees, the Enterprise reported.