After having served the community for 35 years, Indian River County Administrator Joe Baird bid farewell to staff, co-workers and members of the community who all wished him well at a retirement party last Friday evening in the Jackie Robinson Room at Historic Dodgertown.
County Commissioner Bob Solari started things off, joking that Baird’s employees now suffered from PTSD when remembering staff meeting flashbacks. But he noted that despite Baird’s reputation as a stern manager, it was clear that his staff enjoyed working with him and respected his dedication toward keeping the county budget streamlined and in the black.
“Three weeks ago I had to read this long two-page proclamation, and evidently Dori Roy [Baird’s 12-year assistant] got proclamation envy. Now for the first time in Indian River County’s history, we have a three-page proclamation,” said Solari to laughter from the crowd.
Dodgertown Vice President Craig Callan presented Baird with a commemorative baseball bat on behalf of President and CEO Peter O’Malley. He also read from a note O’Malley had written which said, “You deserve a warm and enthusiastic expression of appreciation for the leadership you have demonstrated on the behalf of all the residents of Indian River County. You are a true professional and you will always have my respect and gratitude.”
Other testimonials followed, with friends and county officials good-naturedly ribbing Baird, praising his virtues and touching on his notoriety for being a hard-nosed, strict manager.
Many commended Baird for leaving the county in a good place financially and especially credited his expertise and the long hours he put in during the days after the devastating back-to-back hurricanes of 2004.
“Joe Baird leaves us in a tremendous place going forward,” said Solari. “He helped us through and got us out of the great recession. The way I see it right now, Indian River County is poised to take advantage of tremendous opportunities that are there because of the foundation Joe Baird has left for us.”
“You don’t see very many people like Joe that are responsible for other people’s money that have the sheer respect for it that Joe did,” said County Commissioner Wesley Davis. “He has been the hawk.”
“People see him saying no and being tight with the budget but they don’t see how much he really cares about the county,” said Dori Roy, adding that Baird was an excellent boss who cared about his employees and the community.
Baird officially leaves office at the end of the month when he will be replaced by county Budget Director Jason Brown, whom he has supervised for the past 18 years.
“He set the bar very high so I have a high standard to live up to,” said Brown. “He left us in very good shape in the county but it is always tough to follow someone who is so highly respected. But he has put together a great management team.”
“You really meet a lot of great people on the job” said Baird. “I have had a great staff. I will really miss them the most and I am so proud of this community too.”
Baird says he has a list of places he wants to travel to, including a visit to his mother in Scotland and his brother in Canada.