By Rupert Howell
Panola County Administrator Kelley Magee recently informed supervisors that she would retire in January of 2017 while stating she would like to continue part-time until a new administrator could learn the job.
Magee has been with the county since 2008 coming to that job from being a comptroller in Lafayette County. She succeeded Panola County’s first administrator, David Chandler, who later pleaded guilty in Federal Court to his involvement in a kick-back scheme at Tri-lakes Hospital where he served as president of the board of trustees.
Chandler also paid restitution to the county for ill-gotten gains in the amount of $33,564 after Magee took over his former position.
Supervisors last week agreed that applicants for the administrator’s position would be required to have an accounting degree, but listed no other qualifications during the discussion.
Magee took a pro-active roll in Panola County government much like she did in Lafayette as comptroller tightening reigns on spending to the chagrin of some office holders and officials who had been close to the previous administrator.