Matt Payne has joined Dawson County as the new parks and recreation director, replacing Lisa Henson, who resigned in June after serving 11 years as director. Payne, 45, was most recently employed as the athletic coordinator at the city of Cumming recreation and parks department. He had served in that role since 1999. Prior to that he was athletic coordinator at Forsyth County Parks and Recreation for four years. A Forsyth Central High School native, Payne has lived in north Forsyth county his whole life.