Effingham County commissioners have agreed to hire Toss Allen as the county administrator.

Allen, who has been the interim county administrator, was offered the job by county commissioners last Tuesday night. The employment agreement signed by Allen and commission Chairman Wendall Kessler went into effect Saturday.

As county administrator, Allen will be paid an annual salary of $95,450. He also will be reimbursed for travel and educational expenses and other expenses incurred through his job. The position carries a base salary of $88,287.

“He has the experience and the training and the education. All those things should be factored in. He shouldn’t have to start at just the base salary,” said Commissioner Vera Jones. “That’s just my opinion.”

Allen also will have a vehicle allowance of $450 per month to offset the travel costs of his own vehicle within the county. Should he travel outside the county, he will be paid per mile in accordance with the federal mileage rate.

Commissioners also approved back pay for Allen, based on the difference from his previous salary and that of county administrator for the time he served as interim county administrator. He was named interim county administrator in May 2013.

Under the agreement, Allen also will be exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s wage, hour and overtime limitations and “shall engage in those hours necessary to fulfill the obligations of his position of employment.”

He also must live in Effingham County as part of his position as county administrator. If he is terminated by commissioners, he will receive six months of salary as his separation and should he leave on his own, he is required to give commissioners 60 days’ notice. County human resources director Rushe Hudzinski said that separation clause is standard for the industry.

Under the terms of the contract, Allen is responsible for hiring and assigning employees and shall supervise and direct all employees under the board except for the clerk. The commissioners hire and supervise the clerk. He also can hire and fire department heads with the approval of the board of commissioners.

Allen earned a bachelor of arts in civil engineering technology from Georgia Southern University and has been employed by the county since June 2010. 

 Crawley resigned under pressure.