Troup County Probate Court Judge Donald Boyd plans to retire at the end of June after almost 18 years in the position.

On Tuesday, the Troup County Board of Commissioners approved a request from the probate court to fill positions that will be left vacant following Boyd’s retirement. Chief Probate Clerk Debbie Wade is expected to take over the position until the next regularly scheduled election.

“Judge Boyd is going to be retiring June 29, after 18 years of service in the probate court, so I will be stepping up to assume his duties up until the next election,” Wade said. “What I would like to do, is move the girls who are already in the office up to the highest positions, and I need to post the job for the deputy clerk position.”

Wade has worked for Troup County for 23 years, and she was honored in December 2015 for two decades of service. She has already begun the required training, and Boyd said that he believes she will be able to step into the position on July 2, the Monday following his retirement, without any trouble.

“Mrs. Wade is the associate judge. She was appointed a little over a year ago, and the law says that if I have to resign or retire that she would finish out that term,” Boyd said. “The next term will begin in 2020. She is already in the middle of training. She has gone to the last three or four trainings with me. She is already in the middle of certification. All she has to do is take over because she does a good job.”

County Manager Tod Tentler confirmed that the position will come up for re-election in two years, and that the change should have no impact on the county budget.

“Debbie would go in and fill out the remainder of about two and a half years, and there are three budgeted positions besides the judge,” Tentler said. “She was going to promote from within the first two and she would be replacing the deputy clerk position which is presently in the budget.”

Boyd said that one of the reasons he chose to retire, now is due to a legal change that could have forced the county to hold a special election to fill the position.

“One of the reasons I am retiring now is because they changed a law, and if I don’t, then y’all would have to hold a special election,” Boyd said.

“The reason I had her appointed was so that you wouldn’t have to do that and would save money. If I go ahead and retire, she can finish my term. Then there will be an election and anyone can run who wants to run. That is the reason that I am retiring now, other than my health.”