Resignation accepted by members of the Clark County Council Friday and will be effective immediately
VANCOUVER — County Manager Shawn Henessee has resigned, effective immediately.
Members of the Clark County Council met in executive session Friday morning and later announced that Henessee’s resignation had been accepted.
“We wish Shawn the very best,’’ County Chair Eileen Quiring told Clark County Today Friday. “I believe he was a real asset to Clark County and will also be to the next opportunity.’’
Effective immediately, Deputy County Manager Kathleen Otto will fill in for Henessee on an interim basis until a permanent replacement can be found.
Pursuant to the County Council’s Rules of Procedures: “When the county manager position is vacant, the deputy county manager will become interim county manager until the council fills the vacancy in accordance with the charter.”
“We appreciate his service to Clark County and wish him the best of luck in the future,’’ Councilor Julie Olson told Clark County Today.
“The ongoing work initiated by the manager to improve county contracts, professionalize code enforcement and conditional use compliance as well as reform the permitting process will continue as the county initiates the search for the next manager,” Councilor Gary Medvigy told Clark County Today. “In the meantime the continuity of management will be smooth and continue with our very capable acting manager . I am sure it was a difficult personal decision for Shawn and his family. I personally wish him my best and pray for a positive transition to his next professional opportunity.”
Henessee was announced as the new county manager on May 31, 2018. The county had been without a county manager for about a year after the firing of Mark McCauley in May 2017.
Henessee had been the city administrator in Pleasant Hill, Missouri prior to coming to Clark County. He had also served as county administrator for Marinette County, Wisconsin, from 2015 to 2017.
The members of the County Council will be discussing next steps and will provide updates during this time of transition, according to a news release issued Friday morning.
