The Macon Water Authority’s board of directors voted unanimously Thursday to recommend former Mercer University President Kirby Godsey as the interim chairman of the board to replace the late Frank Amerson.

Executive Director Tony Rojas said Probate Court Judge Bill Self will make the final decision on the interim position. Godsey would serve as chairman until November 2013, when a special election would be held during that election cycle. Whoever is elected then would serve out the remainder of Amerson’s term, which runs through the end of 2014.

Rojas said Godsey was the lone nominee.

“(Godsey) is an ideal interim chairman,” Rojas said. “He’s respected throughout the community, and he and Frank Amerson had great respect for each other.”

Rojas said Godsey has no interest in serving beyond the interim term, which was one of the criteria that Self and the board wanted for the interim position. Rojas said that was because they didn’t want an interim chairman who would later run for the office next year, having a leg up on other candidates interested in running.

Amerson, 83, died last month. He had served as chairman of the MWA for 35 years and is credited with turning around the authority’s dire finances. He also came up with the idea of building a large reservoir for Macon and getting a new water treatment plant after the Flood of 1994.

MWA board member and Macon City Council member Ed DeFore said Godsey would be an excellent choice to replace Amerson.

“He’s recognized throughout the Southeast and the nation for his leadership,” DeFore said. “He’s a person of dignity and a go-getter.”

In other MWA business Thursday, the board approved the Tractor Supply Co. contract with Bibb County and the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority, in which the MWA would waive half the cost of the property to bring the company here. The board also renewed its annual service agreement with the industrial authority.

To contact writer Phillip Ramati, call 744-4334.