DALTON, Ga. — Whitfield County’s public works director has left the department after almost 19 years as a county employee.

According to County Administrator Bob McLeod, public works Director Doyle Dobson submitted his resignation earlier this week.

When asked about potential changes to the department, Mr. McLeod said via e-mail that “the duties and title of the position (of public works director) will be changed.”

Whitfield commissioners were traveling to a training conference Friday and were not immediately available for comment, according to Whitfield County spokeswoman Brooke Bennett.

Mr. McLeod stated in his e-mail that he has appointed veteran public works employee Mike Turner as interim public works director. Mr. Dobson’s annual salary was $63,932, and Mr. McLeod said the county will pay him 60 days of severance pay.

Mr. Dobson did not return a phone call to his home seeking comment about his resignation Tuesday.

Another longtime county employee, parks and recreation Director Roger Crossen, resigned in July 2008 after 23 years at the helm of that department.

The county hired George Page of Brunswick County, N.C., as the new recreation director late last year.