Tuesday night, after a brief closed session after their regular agenda, the Wake Forest commissioners unanimously named Kip Padgett as the new town manager. He will begin work on July 6 and his salary will be$145,000.
Padgett, 44, a native of Cochran, Ga., has been the city manager in Gainesville, Ga., since 2009 and before that was the city’s director of planning and development and the assistant city manager.
He and his wife, Tracy, have two children, Emma, 16, and Cole, 13. Tracy’s family lives near Elon, and in the statement the town released Padgett said they are looking forward to being closer to her family.
“We are very pleased to have someone with Kip’s experience,” Mayor Vivian Jones said. “We believe he will fit very well into the cooperative and customer service culture that is such an important part of our Strategic Plan and will be a strong leader in implementing the Community Plan.”
“The Town of Wake Forest is a progressive and sought after community,” Padgett said. “I am honored to be selected by Mayor Jones and the board of commissioners for the position of town manager. I am looking forward to working with them and the employees of Wake Forest to continue the effort of providing exemplary service to our citizens.
He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a master’s in administration from Georgia College and State University. Before being hired in Gainesville, he worked in the planning departments for two Georgia counties and the state Department of Transportation. His hobbies and interests are college sports, gardening, yard work and biking.
A reception for Padgett and his family will be held in July.
Padgett is required to live in town and will have a six-month transition period to find a house in town, Human Resources Director Virginia Jones said. He will be reimbursed for his out-of-pocket moving expenses not to exceed $5,000, and he will use his own car on the job and be reimbursed for mileage according to town policy.
The nationwide search for a new town manager resulted in 92 applications from about 20 states with several from North Carolina applicants.
