NATCHEZ — The Adams County Board of Supervisors voted to request information and a written strategic plan Tuesday from the applicant the board is considering for the county administrator job.

The board voted 3-2 in a meeting last week to set the position’s salary at $70,000.

Board President Darryl Grennell said after contacting the applicant, a counteroffer was received in the amount of $75,000. The applicant cited the fact that he would be uprooting and relocating his family.

“(The applicant) assured me if he was hired, he can bring grants to the county that will be more than his salary,” Grennell said.

Grennell said previous county administrators in Adams County have received a salary of approximately $50,000 to $55,000, and that the large jump in the projected salary is for the quality of the applicant.

“All applicants were good,” he said. “But he was the best in terms of background and experience.”

Grennell also said after speaking with other counties that are similar in size to Adams, he found Adams was at the low end when it came to the county administrators salary.

Pike County’s administrator salary is $76,000, Warren County’s is $77,000 and Simpson County’s is approximately $90,000.

Board member Thomas “Boo” Campbell said the applicant was head and shoulders above the rest of the applicants, and would be worth the money if he can make good on his promises.

“The bottom line is, you pay for what you get,” he said. “I know the salary is a huge jump from where we were, but if we want to move forward, we have to spend more money.”

The board originally advertised the position with a salary of $65,000, and later raised it to $70,000. Board member Henry Watts said the county needs a written proposal for how the new administrator plans to accomplish the goals and grants he says he can achieve.

“I think we all agree he is qualified,” he said. “We just need to see from him how he plans on completing his goals. What grants is he applying for? When can he have them finished? We need a strategic plan from him on how he plans on accomplishing this.”

Board member S.E. “Spanky” Felter abstained from voting for the applicant to submit a written plan, and said the board needs to look for more options, or pay the current applicant less.

“I just feel $75,000 is too rich for Adams County,” he said. “You need to be sure he is the right person for the job before you pay him that much money.”

The board also said it would like to have a review period for the new employee after he starts to see if he has lived up to the promises he made.

“If he is able to come in and bring more money beyond what his salary is and be self-sufficient, then that is the right move,” Campbell said. “If he gets here and can’t perform, we can talk to him and tell him he is not living up to his word, and we can act accordingly.”

The board said it would be revisiting the issue once it receives the written outline from the applicant, and that there is still a chance of hiring another applicant from the pool.

The board went into executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss litigation issues for the county.