Whitson gets new job

Former Cairo City Manager William R. Whitson and the city council of East Ridge Tennessee agreed to an employment contract Thursday. Whitson begins his new job as city manager on February 12.
The East Ridge City Council voted 5-0 on Thursday, Jan. 22, to hire the former Cairo city manager, according to East Ridge Mayor Mike Steele.
According to Mayor Steele, the council met with Whitson on Sunday, January 18 and hammered out a contract which will be voted on Thursday. Whitson will be paid an annual salary of $112,000 and a $400 per month car allowance under the terms of the 12-month contract that includes an automatic renewal clause. He was picked from a field of 60 applicants for the position, according to Mayor Steele.

Whitson was employed by the City of Cairo for approximately a year and a half as city manager. He resigned his post last March.

Mayor Steele says that the former East Ridge city manager retired last May. Whitson was named as one of five finalists for the position last November.
East Ridge is located adjacent to Chattanooga and does not have a utilities department. As city manager, Whitson will oversee an approximately $10 million budget and 140 employees.
Prior to coming to Cairo Whitson served as the assistant city manager of Port Orange, Florida from 1998 – 2006. Since leaving Cairo he has been employed as a budget director in Panama City, Florida.