From the “you can’t make this shit up” files, we have a community that has apparently started looking for a new city manager without telling their current city manager. A city council threatened to cause a “government shutdown” by refusing to pay vendors. And what’s the first thing any city or county council should do if they find themselves in a $10 million deficit? Well, eliminate the city/county manager position, of course!
All that and more news after the job postings.
Job Board Postings
It is free to post all of your senior and executive level recruitments over at the AAME job board. If you would like to include them in this newsletter, select the $199 option.
City/County Manager Recruitments
CO: Craig - City Manager (Until Filled) | in-house
IA: Cedar Falls - City Administrator (1/30/2026) | CB-Assoc
SC: Blythewood - Town Manager (Until Filled) | Parker Poe Consulting
TX: Lamesa - City Manager (1/16/2025) | Clear Career
TX: Nederland - City Manager (1/23/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Surfside Beach - City Administrator (1/30/2025) Clear Career
VA: Hopewell - City Manager (First Review 1/16/2026) CB & Assoc.
Other
IL: Village of St. Joseph - Public Works Director (2/23/2026) | in-house
PA: Cranberry Township - Director of Utilities (2/9/2026) | in-house
TX: Dumas - Finance Director (1/30/2025) | Clear Career
TX: Liberty - Assistant Police Chief (1/19/2025) | Clear Career
TX: Marble Falls - Finance Director (2/7/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Wichita Falls - Chief Building Official (1/27/2026) | Clear Career
OH: West Milton village manager wakes up to find out his job is being advertised
This is one of the more incredible stories I have heard about.
The village manager for West Milton was apparently blindsided when he found out the governing body had posted a job announcement for…um…his job — without informing him.
Dan Wendt highlighted the issue in a LinkedIn post and raised an interesting question about the ICMA Code of Ethics.
CO: 'We weren't hearing new ideas': DougCo Commissioner explains decision to end general public comment
Public comment -- who needs it!
Douglas County says they have had it with public comment periods. But don’t blame them, blame the public for being boring and unimaginative.
Chair George Teal says public comments have become “Open Mic at the Comedy Show” and “too theatrical.”
Apparently, he does not want the “Batman” coming up to the podium to make a fiery, expletive filled speech (NSFW so turn down the volume…LMAO).
MI: Are Local Government Shutdowns a Thing Now?
Apparently, a local crisis has been averted after the Benton Harbor Council backed down from previous efforts to deny the city manager a funding request of $420,000 to pay outstanding bills.
A pissing match over “transparency” ensued, but cooler heads prevailed and it looks like vendors will get paid after all.
CO: Facing $10 million deficit, Pueblo BOCC eliminates county manager role
Seems like a no-brainer to eliminate the county manager while facing a $10 million deficit, right? LOL
Pueblo County says there are restructuring and moving to a “C-Suite model” where “department leads” will report to the Board and the county manager will be replaced with a chief administrative officer.
News Around the Country
CA: An ex-Fresno Arts Council employee is under investigation in $1.5 million embezzlement case, city sources say
CT: Ridgefield debates creating town administrator role to handle day-to-day responsibilities
FL: In a cutthroat City Hall, the Fort Lauderdale city manager fights to survive (OPINION); Flashback to video I put together about about Fort Lauderdale city council tensions two years ago
FL: Former Lake City city manager to partially reimburse city for severance pay
GA: Baldwin County places assistant county manager/finance director on leave amid audit on $5M sales tax payments to Milledgeville
IL: New Washington city administrator opts to use own car for city business, saving the city money
ME: Lincolnville Administrator David Kinney Teaches Town Government 101
MI: Dearborn firefighters fume over break in tradition for retiring deputy chief
MO: Poplar Bluff city manager resigns months after DUI arrest, cites family, health and new opportunities
NV: City Manager goes against staff, asks Carson City supervisors to approve state development request in downtown district
OH: Ravenna considering move to city manager form of government
PA: Municipal managers from five Centre Region communities gathered last week to brief the local business community on 2026 priorities
SD: Spearfish pays $250,000 to part ways with city administrator
Compensation & Contracts
FL: Commission to vote on paying Key West city manager $295,000; base salary in Jan 2025 was $215,000
Data Center News
LA: New Orleans City Council bans data center development for a year; here's why
MI: Data center moratoriums pile up in Michigan. No one knows if they’ll work
MN: Mayor resigns days after profanity-filled Farmington City Council meeting about proposed data center
NC: The hidden costs of North Carolina’s data center boom
TX: The Texas AI Boom Is Outpacing Water Regulations