Eddie Madden, town manager of Elizabethtown, taking Columbus County post

ELIZABETHTOWN — Eddie Madden, town manager here for the last 13 years, is tendering his resignation to take the county manager position in Columbus County.

The Columbus commissioners met Wednesday morning and emerged from a 50-minute closed session to vote 6-1 in favor of the hire.

The News Reporter, a Whiteville newspaper, said Columbus chairman Ricky Bullard expressed confidence in Madden after the selection was announced. Vice Chairman Jerome McMillian’s reaction was one of elation and optimism for the future in the county. Commissioner Giles Byrd cited the contract negoiated for his reason of voting against the hire.

Contract details were not announced; the Bladen Journal and The News Reporter have made separate public records requests to see the pact. It is believed to be a significant raise to his most recent contract with Elizabethtown. That agreement was a three-year deal effective through June 30, 2022 paying an annual salary of $123,000, according to a public records request obtained by the Bladen Journal.

“I’ve had a terrific relationship with my mayor and council,” said Madden, who began here in February 2008. “We’ve remained close allies and partners in the transformation of Elizabethtown that has happened over the last 13 years. That continues to be the case.

“Speaking with my board members last week, they were all complementary and supportive. We vowed to always be friends, in spite of whatever career choice I make. That’s very comforting and a good place to be. I dare say, very few town managers have that type of relationship with their board.”

He said a similar bond existed with his staff.

“We’re all very close here,” he said. “I depend on them greatly, and they have depended on me as well, and we’ve made a great team together.

“As for the citizens, I have a lot of friends in this community. I will cherish them. This has been the highlight of my career, and I will cherish it forever.”

Madden replaces Mike Stephens, who retired Nov. 30. He said his last day working for Elizabethtown is March 26 and his first day in Columbus County follows on that Monday, March 29. He’ll remain a Bladen resident, having started building a house on his White Oak farm.

Pat DeVane, the assistant town manager, will step into Madden’s role on an interim basis, Elizabethtown Mayor Sylvia Campbell said.

“He’s familiar with a lot of our projects,” she said. “I feel good about that. Pat is very capable. We won’t have to be under the gun so much.”

Madden agreed.

“Pat and I worked closely together for 12 years,” he said. “He knows this organization like the back of his hand. I trust him. The town and the staff, it’s like I have personal attachment. If anyone has to assume that role, I’d be very proud if the board chose Pat to be in that interim capacity.”

But the town will miss Madden’s expertise, Campbell said.

“He’s very professional to work with, but at the same time, laid back,” Campbell said. “He’s aggressive going after new businesses. Any opportunity for the town to grow, he never waned from that. After being in a place for 13 years, you might expect it to slow down. He never did that. His enthusiasm to see Elizabethtown grow never waned. He was always looking out for our best interests.”

She mentioned a partial but lengthy list of accomplishments during Madden’s tenure: renovation of downtown, the Cape Fear Farmer’s Market and Curtis L. Brown Jr. Field; upgrades at each town park; and additions at Browns Creek.

“We’ve done a lot of growing,” she said.

Madden, who just turned 50 earlier this month, was manager during three FEMA-declared disasters: hurricanes Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018, and an EF2 tornado with 130 mph winds on the ground for about 14 miles from Bladen to Sampson County on April 16, 2011.

Madden’s contract with Columbus County does not allow for outside employment. He’ll be eventually tendering resignations as the chairman for the Board of Directors at Emereau: Bladen Charter School and as project manager for White Lake’s multi-use path.

At each position, there are projects in the works involving grants toward construction.

“Emereau is in a good place,” Madden said. “In just a few days, we’ll have finalized a USDA loan and acquisition of the school property from the developer. That will position the school in a very good way for many years to come.

“And then, the next phase of construction will start late February for the completion to be done before opening in August 2021. We’ve come a long way. I’m proud of that project, and that school as well.”

Madden came to Elizabethtown after 10 years in the private sector in a family business where he was the real estate broker and his father a contractor. Before that, he served a stint as planning director in Highlands, a community in Macon County.

“It’s about relationships, and bonds,” Madden said of the success he and the town have enjoyed. ”I think about the relationship with Greg Martin, the county manager, different people like that. I’ve just enjoyed those working relationships. We’ve all complemented each other and tried to make things better.”