By Mark Wineka

mark.wineka@salisburypost.com

GRANITE QUARRY — Granite Quarry Town Manager Phil Conrad has resigned effective Feb. 11.

“The main reason is that I do not have enough time to apply to the Granite Quarry town manager job, primarily due to my personal and professional obligations,” Conrad said Friday.

Conrad, 47, became town manager on Dec. 7, 2015, and continued during the past three years as director and transportation planner with the Cabarrus-Rowan Metropolitan Planning Organization, working with Mobility Solutions Unlimited.

He said Friday he will continue in his MPO director’s role, a position he has held since 2004.

In his resignation letter to the town board, Conrad expressed “my deep appreciation for the opportunity” to serve as town manager and said he learned much about municipal government.

“The town has proven to be a dynamic and ever-changing work environment that far exceeds the size of the town’s geography and population,” Conrad said. “I have also enjoyed working on many exciting projects with both the former and present Board of Aldermen.”

Conrad added he was fortunate to work with “a great team of town staff members and department heads that have been patient with me as a new town manager and exhibited a level of professionalism that I truly admire and appreciate.”

Mayor Bill Feather said he and the board thank Conrad for his service and wish him the best in the future.

“Phil has been acting town manager for the last three years, and in that time has led the town and staff in planning and development of commercial and residential additions,” Feather said. “He has also been able to bring a more professional approach to the management of our community.”

Conrad replaced Justin Price, who had been town manager less than a year. Price followed longtime Town Manager Dan Peters.

Conrad has worked in some capacity for local governments for close to 25 years. He has been with the MPO since 2003 and is accredited by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Conrad has a bachelor’s degree from Davidson College in political science and government and a master’s degree in city/urban, community and regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He is a native of Thomasville. He and his wife, a teacher, have two children.

Feather said the town will interview candidates for the town manager’s job once Conrad has departed.

Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263.