WARSAW — Thomas Wolfe said you can never go home again, but Warsaw town manager Jason Burrell is headed back to an area closer to his native town and someone of special interest, as he has tendered his resignation to accept the assistant manager’s position in the town of Canton.

Canton is a town right off of Interstate 40 past Asheville with around 4,500 in population. For anyone traveling along I-40 they may have smelled the town’s number one industry, the paper processing plant located in the midst of town. Burrell expressed that, due to that paper plant, the town has a large amount of in-and-out traffic ranging into the thousands each day.

“I am looking forward to a new challenge of trying to help build on Canton’s potential for development and finding ways to use the high volume of people coming into the area,” said Burrell. “Hopefully I will be successful in establishing opportunities where these people will add to the economic development of the town. I am excited about getting closer to my home and my girlfriend is thrilled that we will no longer to have a long-distance relationship.”

Burrell explained that he had interviewed for the position several months ago after one of the longest serving town managers in the state, serving around 40 years, had retired and the position came available.

“They actually moved the assistant manager they had to the manager’s spot and I will be filling that vacancy,” he said. “I think it will be a great working relationship and feel it will be beneficial to everybody.”

He also stated that he would be serving in as recording secretary/clerk for the town and have other clerk responsibilities also.

Warsaw mayor Win Batten expressed the town’s response to Burrell’s departure. “Obviously we wish he would stay with us, but we accept his resignation with regrets,” the mayor remarked. “We also want to wish him the best in his new endeavors in Canton. The town cannot blame him for wanting to get back into his home area and also be closer to his girlfriend. Jason has done a good job in his tenure with us and we wish him well.”

Burrell has served as town manager of Warsaw for the past three-and-a-half years and stated that he will miss the many acquaintances made during his time here.

“My time here has been very enjoyable,” Burrell said. “It was my first manager’s position and it was truly a positive learning experience for me. I will miss the town and its people. But when an opportunity becomes available, and you wish to continue to grow as an individual, you must make changes and move on if the opportunity is a good one. I see a lot of potential for Warsaw and I know the town will continue to progress and grow in the future.”

The mayor also explained the process the town will be using to find a replacement for Burrell.

“By law, I am not allowed to fill the interim position or serve as acting manager while we search for a new person. We will do as we have in the past and that is seek to find an interim town manager to manage the day-to-day operation of the town with me. Hopefully the search process is not be a long one and we will be able to quickly fill the position.”

Batten shared that he and the town board feel that in three or four months they may be able to find a replacement. He also expressed that it could be even six months before the right person to serve may be found. “We will possibly be looking at hiring the same interim manager (Tommy Combs) as we had when we hired Jason. He knows us and how we operate, is available and lives in close proximity to Warsaw.”

The town manager’s last day will be Friday, Sept. 18. He is currently working on making the transition for the new manager easier and his own move a positive one.

To contact Billy Todd, call 910-592-8137 ext. 117 or e-mail sigeneral@myclintonnc.com.