Assistant

city manager Joe Morton is leaving Peachtree City after

two years to return to the city manager's post in

Fayetteville.

Morton, a

resident of Fayetteville, expects to begin his duties as

city manager in Fayetteville within the next three weeks,

pending official approval of his contract by the

Fayetteville City Council at its April 3 meeting.

He

previously held the Fayetteville post from 1994 to 1998,

leaving in March of that year to go to Peachtree City,

where he also served as director of financial services.

"I

feel like, from a long-term perspective, this is best for

me career-wise," he told the Citizen Wednesday

afternoon.

Morton has

spent most of his career in city government in Georgia,

including four years as city manager in Cairo and two

more as assistant city manager there. He was also

assistant city manager in Moultrie for several years

during the 1980s.

"It is

difficult to express the positive impact Joe had on all

aspects of our operation," said Jim Basinger, city

manager for Peachtree City.

"He

not only streamlined the financial and budgeting

processes, but also was instrumental in operational and

service improvements throughout the city's departments. I

consider Joe to be a true professional, a class act, and

a close friend. He will certainly be missed in Peachtree

City."

Mayor Bob

Lenox echoed Basinger's comments, adding, "We wish

Joe the best as he returns to Fayetteville, and look

forward to working with him in the future. It is only a

small consolation that Fayette County will not be losing

Joe's experience and abilities."

Peachtree

City will begin recruiting immediately for a director of

financial services, according to a written statement

released by the city