Accolades were cast toward Michael Watson at the Oct. 5 meeting of the Moore County Board of Commissioners.

Watson served more than 25 years as executive director of Sandhills Center for Mental Health, Developmental Disabil-ities and Substance Abuse Services. He has accepted the position of assistant secretary of mental health services development with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

"Michael helped us through a lot of turbulent times," said Commissioner Cindy Morgan, who read the resolution adopted by the board to honor Watson for his service to Sandhills Center.

Morgan is serving her second appointment on the Sandhills Center Area Board and is a former chairwoman.

The commissioners and members of the audience gave Watson a standing ovation as he and his wife, Liz, walked to the front of the chamber to accept the resolution.

"Michael Watson demonstrated his outstanding leadership skills by consistently guiding the consumers, families and community through state mandated mental health reform while striving to provide the best care for consumers during difficult circumstances," read the resolution.

When Watson joined Sandhills Center in 1983, the center served Anson, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore and Richmond counties. When the state's mental health system underwent a major revamping several years ago, it was determined that some area agencies were being poorly managed, and the decision was made to dissolve some agencies and merge member counties into more efficient areas.

Sandhills was singled out among the most efficient in the state and was asked to take on counties from a couple of other agencies. First, Randolph County was attached, then Harnett and Lee. Addition of three counties was an honor, but it added a considerable burden to Watson's shoulders.

Watson thanked the commissioners for their leadership and support of Sandhills Center during his tenure here.

"You always helped where it was most important," he said.

He also thanked Morgan for her commitment and leadership as a member of the Sandhills Area Board on two occasions as well as her service on the Board of Commissioners.

Watson assumed his new duties in Raleigh on Sept. 28.

Later in the meeting, the commissioners approved a request from the Sandhills Center Area Board to waive their authority to approve a successor to Watson.

Morgan, who made the presentation on behalf of the center board, said that the waiver would expedite the hiring process.

In a letter to the commissioners, Thad Ussery, chairman of the Sandhills Center Area Board, said that his board has begun the process of naming a search committee, to consist of consumer members of the board, a county manager and one or more county commissioners. The state secretary of health and human services has the option to appoint one member of the search committee. Ussery is a member of the Richmond County Board of Commissioners.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at (910) 693-2479 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.