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By Mike Barnhardt

Enterprise Record

Davie County Manager David Bone resigned Friday afternoon amid controversy surrounding the removal of an EMS station inside of the Advance Fire Department.

A couple of days earlier, unconfirmed reports indicated that EMS Director Brian Byrd had been placed on an administrative leave from his job.

County commissioners held a closed session Friday to discuss personnel matters, when they accepted Bone’s resignation. Two other closed sessions for personnel issues had been held in recent weeks.

Also on Friday, commissioners approved hiring Mike Ruffin, former county manager, as the interim manager. He started work on Monday.
Ruffin is a senior consultant with Developmental Associates, which among other things, helps cities and counties find new leadership.

Commissioners also on Friday agreed:

• to purchase workspace for temporarily housing an EMS outpost with upfitting costs not to exceed $10,000; and

• to purchase 2.5 acres on Howardtown Road.

In a posted statement, the commissioners thanked Bone for his service.

Bone said: “It has been my honor and privilege to serve as the Davie County Manager. Davie County is a wonderful organization and community with great people and assets. Davie County has a bright future and I wish the county all the best moving forward.”

Bone began work as Davie manager in December, 2020. He has served 19 years in local government, including as county manager in Martin County, and town manager in Wendell, Elizabethtown and Chadbourn.

Ruffin had served as Davie County Manager from 2014-2016.