By Valerie Baldowski
vbaldowski@henryherald.com

Citing health reasons, and a desire to move on to work in the private sector, Henry County’s assistant county manager has resigned.

Michael Sabine, assistant county manager since 2003, resigned the post last week, a month after announcing he would be staying on through the end of the year.

“I had announced back on Oct. 5 that I intended to resign as of Dec. 31,” said Sabine, 36. “I simply wanted to do something different.”

Sabine said he reached a point in his life where he felt he needed more flexibility in his schedule. As a result, he continued, he will seek employment in the private sector as a contracted trouble-shooter, providing technical assistance and management services.

“I felt this was the right time for me to leave the public sector, and continue to work with a variety of government organizations on a private-sector basis,” Sabine said. “This was something that I simply wanted to do.”

Sabine said he has a rheumatological condition, which was also a factor in his decision to step down. He said he decided to alter his original plans to stay on until the end of the year when the condition flared up unexpectedly. According to Henry County Commission Chairman Elizabeth “B.J.” Mathis, Sabine’s last day on the job was Thursday.

Sabine said he advised the members of the Henry County Board of Commissioners of his plans, and