Differences in style lead to county job action

Last week’s decision by the Flathead County commissioners not to renew an employment contract with longtime Agency on Aging Director Jim Atkinson boiled down to a difference in management styles, Atkinson said Tuesday.

“My management style was not their management style,” Atkinson said. “My management style didn’t fit with theirs. Hopefully they’ll get someone new in there quickly and be able to get along better with that management style.”

Atkinson said he had “some foreknowledge” that the commissioners were unhappy with his work because a few years ago the commissioners altered his contract from a three-year agreement to a one-year agreement.

“We’ve been talking about this for a while,” he said.

Since his contract modification, Atkinson said he’d “been working on his job performance.”

“I feel like I met the requirements of my contract,” he said. “I don’t feel badly about the work I did there. I loved it and enjoyed it and the people I worked with were great. And the people I worked for — the seniors — were fantastic.

“We just parted ways. I would love to still be working there. But it was evidently time to go,” he said.

“I think ... it was a jolt to a lot of people. Nineteen years. No one’s indispensable and whoever comes in will come in with their flair,” he said.

Atkinson, 63, said he’s not sure what’s next in his career. Although he had been the Agency on Aging director since 1993, he has had a varied career, including teaching in both Tacoma, Wash., and Kalispell, working as a special education consultant for rural schools in four Montana counties, selling telephone systems and copy machines and operating a nursing home.

“I think this is a nice challenge,” Atkinson said. “God’s got a plan for me. I have to kind of look at it, see what comes down the pike and what the Lord has in store. And his timing isn’t always as precise as mine.”

Staying busy won’t be much of a problem, he said. As a member of the Kalispell City Council, he logs plenty of hours on city business every week.

He’s scheduled to meet this week with the board members of the senior home repair program, an Agency on Aging program he founded. After commissioners voted not to renew his contract last week, Atkinson told them he wanted to volunteer with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program’s mobile-home repair effort.

“This is a rich community to get involved in,” Atkinson said. “I like this community and will have an opportunity to find things to do.”

Commissioners intend to appoint an interim director for the Agency on Aging as soon as possible, county Administrator Mike Pence said.

As they begin the process to hire a new director, Pence expects commissioners to discuss whether to restructure the agency or alter the director’s job description.

Pence said Atkinson’s departure won’t result in any service interruptions at the Agency on Aging.

“We have good program managers in place to keep things moving,” Pence said.

The Agency on Aging includes Eagle Transit, Meals on Wheels, RSVP and a multitude of programs to assist senior citizens related to home repair, companion care, light housekeeping, legal and insurance counseling and a telephone reassurance program.

Prior to their unanimous vote on Atkinson’s contract, all three county commissioners complimented Atkinson.

“You’re a great member of the community,” Commissioner Jim Dupont said. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for Flathead County.”

Commissioner Pam Holmquist, who made the motion not to renew Atkinson’s contract, thanked Atkinson for his “contribution to the community.”

Commission Chairman Dale Lauman wished Atkinson “the best of luck in whatever you may do.

“You’re a great person. You’re a great asset to the community,” Lauman said. “I appreciate that.”

Reporter Tom Lotshaw contributed to this news story.

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.