BATH TWP.: Green’s loss is Bath’s gain.
After a five-month search, township trustees this week voted to appoint Caine Collins as the township’s service director.
He will be paid $78,000 a year and will begin work May 1.
Collins, who lives in Clinton, now works as the service supervisor of the highway and stormwater division in Green.
Before that, Collins spent 10 years with the Summit County Engineer’s Office, working his way up from construction inspector to construction team manager.
Interim Bath Administrator Bill Snow said Collins has a familiarity with the community from his work on projects during his county role.
He earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree at the University of Akron.
Collins also brings to Bath a military background with the U.S. Army and the Ohio Army National Guard.
In the National Guard, he is a squad leader and assistant platoon sergeant and served in Iraq.
The vote on the appointment was not unanimous.
Trustee Elaina Goodrich acknowledged Collin’s qualifications but said she preferred current Assistant Service Director and Park Director Mike Rorar, who was also a candidate for the post.
Rorar has been interim service director since January, and Goodrich cited his 16 years of work for Bath Township as the reason she preferred him for the post.
Trustee Becky Corbett said she appreciated Rorar’s service and commitment.
But she said “the background of Mr. Collins is unparalleled.”
The need for a new service director was prompted by the retirement last year of Bob Wilson, who had been with the township’s service department for 30 years, the last three years as service director.
The township had 30 applicants for the job.