McCollum Honored For 'Northport First' Approach As He Steps Down

NORTHPORT, AL — Interim Northport City Administrator Hardy McCollum said it took former Mayor Donna Aaron four attempts to convince him to come on board in a temporary capacity. On Monday, though, McCollum fought through tears as he thanked city staff, his family and elected officials for allowing him to continue his public service over the last two years.

"I said from the first day that we were going to put Northport first," McCollum said during Monday's council meeting. "If you expected me to do anything less ... then you’ve got the wrong person."

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McCollum served as Tuscaloosa County probate judge for more than four decades before retiring due to age limits on the office, but was appointed to fill the city administrator vacancy in an interim capacity in August 2019. He was viewed by many in City Hall as a reliable short term remedy to turnover and inconsistency in the position, which oversees department heads and exerts a heavy degree of authority.

During that time, McCollum — who is still most often referred to as "Judge" — helped cultivate the "Northport First" mantra into the vocabulary of the city's departments and its approach to infrastructure, economic development and education.

For instance, the city's 1% sales tax has been dubbed "Northport First" as the revenue generated is actively being dolled out to schools and various projects just in the short time it's been in place.

"When [McCollum] came in, his first comments were 'we’re going to make Northport First,' and I think we were able to do that and he’s done a tremendous job," said District 3 Councilman John Hinton, who chaired both the committee to hire McCollum and the committee that recently hired Tuscaloosa City Attorney Glenda Webb to be McCollum's replacement in a full-time capacity.

McCollum has been a vocal supporter of his successor, who was in attendance Monday as the longtime public servant was honored for his time in City Hall.

"I told the staff this morning and department heads, when we selected Glenda Webb to succeed me, I said 'Mission accomplished,' because we now have the city in very good hands moving forward," McCollum said. "I'm just glad I had the opportunity to play a small part in the propulsion to move Northport forward."

Mayor Bobby Herndon also highlighted the judge's contributions and presented him with both a formal proclamation and a Northport First award in the shape of a 1, to commemorate the impact he had on the culture within City Hall.

Webb will assume the city administrator office on May 1, with her contract lasting through the first Monday of November 2024.

In doing so, she will become the first woman appointed to serve in what is arguably the most powerful non-elected position in City Hall.

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