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County ESD Director Resigns
By Mary Lolli
HAMILTON — Tony Parrott, director of Butler County’s Environmental Services
Department, abruptly resigned his post this week for undisclosed personal
reasons.
“Tony has served this department well for two decades and we wish him all the
best,” County Administrator Derek Conklin said in an announcement to county
employees Wednesday morning.
A short news release later issued by County Personnel Director Douglas Duckett
indicated Parrott’s resignation would be effective Aug. 2. However, County
Commission President Charles Furmon confirmed that Parrott had already left the
post.
“Basically, Tony is already gone. I’m assuming he’s using up some vacation time,
now until the Aug. 2 effective date of his resignation,” Furmon said.
Duckett’s statement said Parrott resigned “for personal reasons” but did not
elaborate. Neither Duckett nor Conklin were available for comment.
Meanwhile, Sue Vance has been appointed to serve as acting director of the
department while commissioners launch a search for a new director.
“I expect we will have to do a nationwide search,” Furmon said. “We want to make
certain we find the right person to fill that important position. That person
could be someone already in our employ. We are fortunate that we have a number
of people who are qualified to fill in during the interim.”
Under Parrott’s leadership, the county’s Environmental Services Department
received numerous national recognitions for innovative projects.
The most recent was in March when the department was named recipient of a 2004
National Achievement Award from the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage
Agencies for an informational brochure and CD-Rom it developed concerning the
Upper Mill Creek water reclamation facility.
Parrott also received numerous individual awards and is credited with
streamlining operations within the department.
“Under his leadership, there were a lot of wonderful things accomplished in his
department,” Commissioner Michael Fox said. “He managed the department through
the very difficult dispute with Hamilton over a water contract he inherited.
Also, more recently, he secured a contract with Cincinnati Water Works which
will protect county water customers from price gouging and keep a lid on rising
water costs.
“Tony did a lot of good things and made a positive difference,” Fox said. “I
wish him well in his new endeavors.”
Furmon declined to comment on Parrott’s service with the county.
Commissioner Greg Jolivette was not available for comment.