From staff reports

A former Cherokee County department head has been hired by neighboring Cobb County as the director of public services.

Dr. Jackie McMorris of Canton, the former director of Cherokee County’s Community Services agency, was approved in a unanimous vote Tuesday by the Cobb Board of Commissioners to take the job there.

“Ms. McMorris worked in a similar position in a highly respected county, she has demonstrated a commitment to learning and applying her knowledge in a variety of areas,” said David Hankerson, Cobb County manager. “I think she will be a great asset to Cobb County.”

Most recently McMorris was the chief of staff of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.

In her new job in Cobb, McMorris will oversee about 450 full- time employees in five departments: Elections; Parks and Recreation; Libraries; Senior Services; and Extension Services.

The county received a total of 135 applications for the position, with 41 of those considered eligible for the job, which has a salary range of $96,805 to $157,809.

McMorris left Cherokee County in 2011 when the agency she directed was eliminated from county operations, a move the commissioners said then would save the county $100,000.

She had worked for Cherokee County since 2003 when she was hired as the county’s first community relations coordinator, which was created to handle government outreach and media relations.

Her agency at the time she left included Senior Services, Cherokee Area Transportation Services, Community Development Block Grant and Recycling-Litter Control.

Some of those services were then moved under other departments when her position was eliminated.

McMorris received a four-month severance at the time.