Bill Narducci has signed a conditional offer to become Union County’s administrator.
“Being in this county 12 years, I kind of feel this is a great opportunity for me to learn more and have a say in how the county government is run,” Narducci said, adding that while he doesn’t live in Union County, “this is a county I feel at home in.”
Narducci, who currently serves as the assistant county engineer, will start as interim deputy county administrator. Once he passes a background check, he will become the full-time deputy administrator. Following a transition period, Narducci will become the county administrator.
“Even though he is already an employee and known, we just wanted to go through the right process and make sure we do things the best way,” said Ginger Yonak, Union County human resources director.
Narducci will replace current administrator Tim Hansley, who makes $115,000 annually and is retiring in May.
Officials said they asked Hansley to help look for his replacement.
Narducci said he was “honored” when Hansley approached him about the position.
“As it was to a lot of people, I think, it was a surprise to me,” Narducci said. “I am certainly happy with where I am and it is not something I ever thought about going into.”
Officials said Narducci was the only candidate considered.
He said he was intrigued but a bit apprehensive.
“As I talked about this with Tim, I was more excited and more comfortable with the position,” Narducci said.
The commissioners said it was important to get Narducci on board quickly so he can work with Hansley.
“I cannot imagine a better person to learn under for this position,” Narducci said.
He added, “This is not something I go into thinking I know exactly what is going to happen on a daily basis.”
Narducci said that when the transition is complete, he will be an employee of the county commissioners.
“My primary task will be to push forward and enact policy for the commissioners,” Narducci said.
He said it will also be important to “provide them with the information they need to make those decisions and policy.”
He said he will also work with elected officials and department heads in and around the county.
“We have some great folks here and I am interested to hear more about their offices and how they work and to help those offices operate as effectively and as well as we can,” Narducci said.
Narducci said he believes county officials selected him because he has worked extensively with growth in the county, building relationships with development stakeholders.
“The growth is not going to be stopping anytime soon so it is about leveraging the growth the best we can to provide for the citizens of Union County,” Narducci said.
Narducci said he is very familiar with the operations of the county engineer’s office but knows his decisions cannot be about helping that office alone.
“At the end of the day, the decisions need to be what benefits the county as a whole,” Narducci said.
The commissioners recently approved a transition plan for Narducci as he moves from the engineers office into his new role.
“Training and transition activities will immediately begin, on an intermittent, as-needed basis to help acclimate Mr. Narducci to his future role in the Commissioners’ Office,” according to a resolution from the commissioners.
In December, Narducci will work predominantly for the engineer’s office with his salary being paid by the engineers office. Each month, Narducci’s involvement with the commissioners’ office will increase. By May of 2022, officials say the transition should be complete with the entire salary being paid out of the commissioners’ budget.
“We are also committed to your successful transition to the position of county administrator, and we are dedicated to executing the enclosed transition plan for the benefit of internal and external stakeholders, which was developed in cooperation with the Union County Engineer,” according to a resolution from the commissioners’ office.
Officials said Narducci will also help the county engineer in selecting and training a replacement in the engineer’s office.
Narducci said he discussed the position with County Engineer Jeff Stauch before taking it. He said Stauch is “happy for me of course, but he is a little worried how he is going to fill my position.”
Narducci said it was important that everyone is “comfortable” with the process and the transition.
Narducci currently earns $111,000 annually. As county administrator, he will start at $120,000 and will be eligible for a 4.2% increase after 180 days. At that point, Narducci and the commissioners will review the position and Narducci’s performance.
Narducci joined the county engineer’s office in 2009 as a project engineer. He was promoted to engineering manager in 2014 and assistant county engineer in 2016.
In a release, the commissioners said they selected Narducci “because he is a respected leader within the county and he is well established internally and with external stakeholders in the community.”
“He has played a key role in a variety of development projects for the county and he consistently demonstrates tact, diplomacy and sound judgment in his decision-making and interactions with others,” according to a release.
Narducci said that in his role with the engineer’s office he has been able to help a lot of families, businesses and communities in Union County.
“I take great pride in that and am excited to expand that in my new role,” Narducci said.
Prior to working in Union County, Narducci worked as a senior project engineer in the private sector, mainly working on private site design and project management.
Narducci earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Ohio Northern University in 2001. He was licensed as a professional engineer in 2007.
Hansley was hired in September 2017 as an interim administrator and has tried to retire on several occasions, but has each time been asked and agreed to stay on.