Smith-Hanes: Saline County was ‘right opportunity at the right time’

After serving as the Ellis County administrator for more than three years and helping to guide the county through several major projects, Phillip Smith-Hanes has been named the Saline County administrator.

Smith-Hanes, who was hired in December 2015 and began working in Ellis County in March 2016, said Tuesday he is excited for the opportunity.

“It’s a larger community closer to where I grew up, but I’m sad to be leaving Ellis County,” said Smith-Hanes, who grew up in Marion County. “Ellis County’s been very good to me.

“I wasn’t out there looking for a new job,” he added. “This is just something that popped up that was kind of the right opportunity at the right time.”