Former Peachtree City Recreation Director Cajen Rhodes was supposed to return to Peachtree City to serve in a dual role as the city’s new public services director and assistant city manager. That will not be the case.
Peachtree City Manager Jon Rorie on Dec. 27 said the situation changed approximately a month ago when Rhodes called to say he was declining the job.
“Cajen said he had a change of heart and did not want to be in management right now,” Rorie said, noting that Rhodes was supposed to start the position in Peachtree City in early December.
Information circulating in recent emails questioned if Rhodes’ decision not to return to Peachtree City was connected to allegations of inappropriate behavior during a conference at Jekyll Island, Ga., in early November.
“I don’t know if the rumors are true,” Rorie said, adding that it was not within his purview to reach out to Rhodes now about the allegation, weeks after Rhodes declined the job. “Sometimes people change their mind about taking a position.”
Rorie announced on Nov. 2 that Rhodes, who previously headed Peachtree City Recreation Department, would serve as the city’s assistant city manager and public services director.
It was announced on Nov. 1 at a meeting of the Troup County Commission that Rhodes was leaving his position as director of the Troup County Parks and Recreation Department to take the position in Peachtree City.
Then, from Nov. 5 to Nov. 8, the Troup County Parks and Recreation staff, including Rhodes, attended the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association 2018 annual conference in Jekyll Island, where Troup County was named Agency of the Year in the 50,001 to 80,000 population category.
It was at that conference that the allegedly inappropriate behavior occurred, according to one report. Rhodes withdrew from the Peachtree City job shortly after the conference.
