Former Haywood manager rehired to lead HHS
Many people were surprised by the sudden resignation of Ira Dove from his position as Haywood County manager last October, but just as surprising was an announcement last week that Dove would rejoin the county in a role that is different, but not new to him.
“I think it’s great to be back,” Dove said. “There are a lot of familiar faces.”
As of March 26, Dove now heads the county’s Consolidated Health and Human Services Agency after receiving unanimous approval March 20 by the Health and Human Services Agency Board.
Dove was hired as county manager May 5, 2014, and served in the $144,000-a-year job until Oct. 3, 2017, but prior to that, he served as an attorney for the county’s Department of Social Services for nine years. After that, he headed the department for four years.
A press release issued by the county March 21 said that the county had received almost 40 applications, but none from within the ranks of current employees. Five applicants were selected, three were interviewed, and Dove was ultimately chosen for the $105,000 job.
“We all agreed that Ira was the best qualified and best suited person for the position,” said Interim County Manager Joel Mashburn in the release.
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Dove said that interim director Patrick Johnson has done “a great job holding things down” since the departure of former HHS director Talmadge “Stoney” Blevins in January. Blevins, who for a brief period also served as Haywood’s assistant county manager under Dove, left to take a job in Buncombe County.
“They served over 13,000 people on Medicaid last year, and had a great year,” Dove said of HHS. “And they continue to engage in innovative programming, like giving out pack-and-play cribs to help ensure safe sleep.”
Community engagement by HHS will continue under Dove’s direction, including addressing the opioid epidemic, but the bread-and-butter of the department’s daily operations continues to be providing services and support to people in need in Haywood County.
“We still have some capacity in Meals on Wheels, and I would say that if people are in need of services, we’re still there to provide those,” he said. “The economy is recovering, and we’re grateful for that, but if people are still in need of economic supports, we can do that.”
