Crumpton retires from county manager post

Feb. 23—Lee County Manager Dr. John Crumpton is closing the curtain on his nearly 15 years in helping guide the county's growth and financial status.

Today is the last day of Crumpton's tenure. The Lee County commissioners honored Crumpton at Monday's meeting with a resolution recognizing his years of service and leadership.

While he is stepping out of his role in county government, he's not ready to call it quits on another line of work.

"I'm retiring from local government work. I've had enough of this line of work," Crumpton said in an interview earlier this week.

Not immediately, thought.

Crumpton, 61, plans to relax with time and visit his 94-year-old mother in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Crumpton hasn't decided on his next line of work but said he is keeping his options open.

Some might his biggest accomplishments are economic development and passage of a bond to build the multi-sports complex. Both are expected to boost county revenues and create jobs.

But Crumpton sees his legacy in a different light.

"I have a philosophy that anybody can do projects," he said.

All it takes is a good architect to design a project and a contractor to oversee the construction.

"I think my greatest accomplishment has to do with developing an organization that's respected by our peers and can get things done for the citizens of the county," Crumpton said.

He credits the teamwork from the county government department heads which has created a good relationship — a needed commodity when it comes to handling matters.

That includes the preparation of a budget, working with the Lee County Sheriff's Office and Board of Education to try and meet the funding requested by both.

"It takes a lot of negotiation and discussion to make sure you have the right people in the right place," Crumpton said.

In the 1990s, Crumpton spent nearly two years as the county's finance officer, which has provided him the knowledge to ensure that commissioners see the long-term benefits and revenue though investments in projects.

The county's economic development efforts in recent years have been "fascinating," he said.

With the creation of the Sanford Area Growth Alliance, Lee County and the City of Sanford have partnered to draw new businesses. While the partnership has been successful, a county manager has to keep in mind what he thinks his board will seek in an agreement.

"Since we created SAGA, we're all on the same page 99% of the time," Crumpton said.

With new industries locating in the county, some have voice concerns about development of vastly large subdivisions. As the population increases, there will a need for additional schools and fire districts.

"The question is when will the schools be at capacity when these houses go up. Where will the schools go" Crumpton said.

Talks with the city are in the works to find a location and purchase land before prices go up, he said.

Lee County will likely become a bedroom community for Chatham County as it continues development of its Mega Site and construction on the VinFast electric vehicle plant. It will also be bringing in biotech businesses such as Abezena and Astellas gene therapies, tire manufacturing company and the expansion of Pfizer.

Some may see it as a loss for the rural, sleepy Lee County that residents have enjoyed for years, but Crumpton sees it as a benefit.

"You think about these people from Los Angeles and San Francisco who are (relocating here). They're going to be loving life. They're going to gain hours in the day moving here. It's different for the people that already live here versus the people who will be living here," he said.

"This community is not asleep anymore. There's a lot going on."

In the years since Crumpton was named county manager he was worked with 22 commissioners and six different board chairs. Some relationships have been good, others not so much, he said.

"I got very lucky with the people who came on the boards. I was very fortunate that I was able to have private conversations with them all and those conversations stayed private, which is amazing," Crumpton said.

He's going to miss the everyday challenges and changes.

"No day is ever the same. Something changes every day or the issue you need to work on is always different," he said.

Crumpton advised future Lee County leaders to do away with his county manager blueprint. Change it, he said.

"The next generation of people who are going to be leading Lee County ... it ain't going to be the same and it better not (stay the same). "