The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is expected to name former County Manager Doug Derrer its interim executive on Sept. 3, after the board opted not to renew the contract of the present county manager, Eric Johnson.

The appointment would mark the second time Derrer has served in the interim role. He was an interim manager from September 2008 to March 2009, and then was full county manager until his retirement in April, 2017. His successor, Johnson, started in the job in September, 2017.

A new interim manager’s contract is being negotiated with Derrer, and commissioners are to vote on it Sept. 3, according to minutes of the Aug. 6 county board meeting. Derrer will hold the post until a permanent manager takes it.

Johnson came to Forsyth with 30 years’ experience in county government, most recently as assistant county administrator for Hillsborough County, Fla. Derrer had been with Forsyth since February, 2008, when he hired on as deputy county manager.

About the Author

Keep Reading

A DeKalb County water main break closed a portion of Midway Road on Monday. The Decatur school district canceled classes. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Featured

Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)