Tyrone is about to get a new Town Manager by way of Upson County. The Town Council last week approved the hire of Upson County Manager Kyle Hood, who is expected to begin his new job next month. Hood’s arrival will mean that interim Town Manager and Tyrone Police Chief Brandon Perkins can return to his full-time duties with the police department.

Hood has served as Upson County Manager since July 2008 and has also served as project manager for the Wilkinson County Commission and as a research and teaching assistant in Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville.

The 28 year-old Hood earned a Master of Public Administration from GCSU in 2008 and, in 2011, earned a certification as a local government official from the Carl Vinson Institute at the University of Georgia.

Hood in a letter to the council said, “I am prepared to showcase a unique combination of progressive leadership in public service and a relevant educational background, along with youthful excitement and committed interest in the field. My ability to meet specific project needs and organizational goals, along with varied customer service and communication capacities, will provide for an ease of transition into the position without a lapse in the service provisions your citizens have become accustomed to receiving.”

Hood is expected to begin the job in early October.

Mayor Eric Dial said Hood’s job as county manager in Upson County is one where he managed approximately 100 employees.

“We’re really pleased about the opportunity to have Kyle with us,” Dial said. “He has many great ideas about how to operate a municipal government efficiently and he has some great traits that will benefit Tyrone.”

Dial in his comments Thursday was quick to acknowledge the work of interim Town Manager Brandon Perkins who, for nearly a year, has functioned in that position while maintaining his responsibilities as Tyrone Police Chief.

“We’ve been incredibly pleased with the performance that Brandon has given the town,” said Dial. “He didn’t step into an easy situation and he didn’t know about the different duties involved in running a town. His work ethic and skills and his commitment to character have turned him into a really good town manager.”

Dial’s comments are noteworthy because few in municipal management or law enforcement administration are ever called on to take on the responsibility of a dual administrative function. Though his first calling is law enforcement, Perkins was the exception to the rule when he stepped forward in November 2011 to take on the responsibilities of town management to help out in a time of need.

“We accept and appreciate that Brandon’s heart is in the police department and we’re happy for him to go back to being police chief,” Dial said.