By Taylor Boyd
Michael McGuinness hit the ground running after being appointed interim Patrick County administrator following the Nov. 17 Board of Supervisors meeting. He said his focus is creating a collaborative environment where county employees can do their best work.
The 62-year-old described his appointment as humbling and an honor.
“It’s not just a job for me to pass through and say, ‘Hey look at me.’ I’m a nobody, I represent our citizens. It might not be much to anybody, but to me it’s the world. I am the county administrator because of the people of Patrick County,” McGuinness said.
Following the meeting, McGuinness returned home briefly before heading back to the office at 2 a.m., working until 7 p.m. Tuesday. “I stayed until 7 p.m. Tuesday night with stuff that we’re going to start doing, initiatives, and some things I have for our team and stuff,” he said.
Even after arriving home around 8 p.m. Wednesday, he said he was ready to continue working. “I’m here because I’ll die in Patrick County, and before I die, I owe it to the people that have welcomed me and my wife so warmly,” he said.
McGuinness said the response to his appointment has been “unbelievable,” with numerous calls and messages from residents, the sheriff’s office, and the school board.
“My phone blew up that night from people calling and texting me from people in the county, from the sheriff’s office, from the school board. It was amazing, and it’s humbling,” he said.
Focus on residents
McGuinness described his motivation for the job through the example of a fictitious resident, Mrs. Jones, an 85-year-old widow in Woolwine.
“She lives in a very modest home. Her son’s an attorney in Florida and her daughter works in D.C. At the end of the month, Mrs. Jones has $200 after she pays her bills,” he said.
McGuinness said county staff must use resources responsibly to support residents like Mrs. Jones, ensuring they can participate in community events while addressing basic needs such as home repairs.
Goals and approach
McGuinness plans to interview every county employee, hopefully within 30 days of assuming his role to get to know his team.
“My question to you as my employee is what do I need to do so you can do your job more effectively and efficiently, what can we do to save the county money, and make a better product? That’s it, that’s what my job is. I’m not the Transfer Station Manager, I got Scottie Hylton there, he’s fantastic,” he said, adding he’s certain all employees are, but has experience with Hylton.
He emphasized that he does not plan to micromanage employees. “When someone takes ownership of it and they care for it and you go in there” and see it. “It’s because they have the environment to improve it, they have self-worth, and they feel valued,” McGuinness said.
He also pledged to protect his team and remain accessible to residents. “If you have something to say about my team, you call me and we will discuss it. Now I take allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse very seriously. I am the county administrator as of Tuesday, Nov. 18, and I fully expect for any citizen (with concerns) to call me. I have been busy, and I will stay busy, but I will have the time for any citizen when they have a suggestion,” he said.
McGuinness said credit for any successes are because of his team, but if something’s wrong with county administration, it’s his fault. However, “if something’s good or someone’s happy about something, the credit should go directly to my team. They’re the ones doing the amazing work,” he said.
Engaging the public
To increase communication with residents, McGuinness will host an open forum monthly focusing on a different county department. The first session of what is tentatively called the Patrick County Citizens Learning Series is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Transfer Station beginning at 5:30 p.m. Station Manager Scottie Hylton and his staff will be available to answer questions.
McGuinness also plans to develop programs to recognize employees and residents for community service during board meetings.
Background
Originally from the “North,” McGuinness quipped, “I got here as soon as I could.” A retired Marine, McGuinness also previously worked in federal government management. He owns a commercial cleaning company in North Carolina. He and his wife, Luann, started dating while in school, when he was 14 years old. They have been married for 42 years of the 47 years they’ve been together. The couple have two children: Nicole, who lives in North Carolina, and Tyler, stationed in Washington, D.C., with the Coast Guard.
