THE NORTH PORT CHIEF ENGINEER IS HEADING NORTH TO TAKE A SIMILAR POSITION. PUBLISHED REPORTS SAY 52 YEAR OLD PAT COLLINS WILL BE THE NEW CHIEF ENGINEER OF VALDOSTA, GEORGIA AMIDST RUMORS OF NORTH PORT OUTSOURCING THEIR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, COLLINS TOLD THE HERALD TRIBUNE THAT THINGS APPEAR BETTER IN VALDOSTA BECAUSE THEY’RE STILL GIVING OUT RAISES. COLLINS TOOK A FIVE PERCENT PAY CUT IN OCTOBER AS PART OF NORTH PORT’S BUDGET CUTS. COLLINS ALSO WORKED FOR SARASOTA COUNTY AND THE CITY OF VENICE DURING HIS MANY YEARS HERE. COLLINS WAS MAKING $129,000 A YEAR.
