New hires will step into leadership roles at three Pasco County departments.
Pasco County commissioners approved the hiring choices at their Dec. 1 meeting in New Port Richey.
Brian Head, a former chief deputy with the Pasco County Sheriff’s office, will be assistant county administrator for public safety and administration. He served 12 years with the sheriff’s office before retiring in 2013 with the rank of colonel. Most recently, he has been employed by Pasco-Hernando State College at its law enforcement academy.
(Courtesy of Pasco County)
In 2011, Head was one of three finalists for the top cop job in Pasco County following the retirement of Bob White. Gov. Rick Scott appointed Chris Nocco as the county’s sheriff and, soon after, Head was promoted to second-in-command as deputy sheriff. He held that position at his retirement in 2013.
He is a graduate of Troy University with a degree in public administration, and also has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Head’s start date is Dec. 14 at an annual salary of $115,000. He will oversee Fire Rescue, emergency management and the county’s new 911 communications center. He replaces Randy TeBeest who left several weeks ago to move out of state.
“I believe he is exactly the right candidate to help us put the cherry on top of the consolidated communications center,” said Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker.
Cloyd “Flip” Mellinger will become assistant county administrator for utility services effective Dec. 9. His start date will overlap by a few weeks the remaining tenure of Bruce Kennedy, who plans to retire at the end of the year.
Mellinger currently is director of utility services in Marion County, a position he has had for about six years. Previously, he also served four years in supervisory positions with the same department.
He served in the U.S. Navy and is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and a master’s degree in science and environmental management.
His annual salary will be $128,000.
Kelley Boree will become director of parks, recreation and natural resources effective Jan. 4. She currently is parks and recreation director in Jacksonville.
She is a graduate of William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri with a degree in business administration. She has served in director level positions with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Her annual salary will be $105,000.
“I look forward to leading an awesome parks team,” said Boree in comments to commissioners prior to her appointment to the job.
Published December 9, 2015
