Oct. 7, 2021

Incoming city manager signs contract; start date Dec. 20

The Johnson City Board of Commissioners and Cathy Ball signed an employment contract at a regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, making her selection as the next city manager official. Her first day will be Monday, Dec. 20.

The Commission selected Ball as the next city manager following a nationwide search led by Strategic Government Resources (SGR), which culminated in late September with a two-day in-person interview process for the five candidates under consideration for the position.

“The breadth and depth of Ms. Ball’s experience in Greenville and Asheville landed her among the finalists,” said Mayor Joe Wise. “In her interviews with City Commissioners and City staff members as well as her conversations with our citizens, it became very apparent that her vision for the City resembles that of our citizenry and is one of the reasons she was a unanimous choice to serve as the next city manager.” 

Ball currently is assistant city manager for the City of Asheville, N.C., and previously served as the City’s interim city manager for nearly a year in 2018. As assistant city manager she is responsible for the oversight of various city departments including planning and urban design, community and economic development, development services, public works, parks and recreation, transportation, capital projects and water resources.

Ball joined Asheville in 1997 as a city engineer and subsequently held the positions of director of engineering and transportation and public works director before being promoted into the role of assistant city manager in 2013. She previously was an assistant city engineer in Greenville, S.C., for nearly a decade.

The city manager, who is appointed by the City Commission, serves as the chief administrative officer, managing day-to-day operations in accordance with policies and procedures set forth by the Board. Current City Manager Pete Peterson announced in March his plans to retire at the end of the year after more than 30 years of service with the City of Johnson City.

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