A city manager embroiled in a controversial data center controversy has texted herself into trouble after sending messages that insulted the intelligence of some of her residents. A local paper seems to think a resume is supposed to list every job you ever had and attacked the city manager for an omission on his. A New Jersey councilman calls the mayor a “piece of shit” during the meeting and we have video for you.
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
IL: Decatur - Deputy City Manager (4/19/2026) | in-house
IL: Streator - City Manager (3/23/2026) | Arndt Municipal Support
PA: DuBois - City Manager (4/17/2026) | Kafferlin Strategies
TX: Marshall - City Manager (4/1/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Morgan’s Point Resort - City Manager (Until Filled) | Clear Career
Other
IL: Decatur - Director of Finance (4/5/2024) | in-house
IL: Village of St. Joseph - Public Works Director (Until Filled) | in-house
KS: Osage County - County Controller (4/14/2026) | Bird Dog Consulting
TX: Dumas - Finance Director (Until Filled) | Clear Career
TX: Bridgeport - Assistant Chief of Police (Until Filled) | Clear Career
TX: Lufkin - City Engineer (3/30/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Marble Falls - Finance Director (Until Filled) | Clear Career
TX: Odessa - Chief Financial Officer (5/8/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Weatherford - Assistant Director of Water Utilities (Until Filled) | Clear Career
OK: Coweta city manager apologizes for saying opponents of data center project “not very smart”
The fight over a proposed data center in Coweta has led to an apology from City Manager Julie Casteen after she said protesters “were not very smart” in text messages in response to a public information request.
"I recognize that what I said in text messages to others was inappropriate and hurtful, and I sincerely apologize. I take full responsibility for falling short of the standard this community deserves and am committed to better judgment and better communication moving forward.”
Unmoved by her apology, residents are calling for her resignation or termination.
Manufacturing Outrage in Michigan - CM’s Resume Unfairly Criticized
A local paper took a shot at their city manager by suggesting that he was being deceitful with his resume. Caro City Manager Scott Czasak’s offense?
He didn’t include a short stint as a city manager in another town. Apparently, the local paper thinks your resume is supposed to be an exhaustive reference document detailing your entire work history. It is not!
Clowns.
NJ: Actual Outrage in Tom’s River; Councilmember calls mayor a ‘big piece of s---’ and meeting goes off the rails
Yeah — that happened. Jersey is gonna Jersey!
I am not even going to try and summarize as you really need to read the article to get the full effect. Or you can watch this two minute long NSFW clip. Make sure you get your popcorn ready.
MN: "How are we going to get qualified candidates? Who wants to join this mess?
After failing to agree to terms with their finalist, Nisswa has abruptly decided to table their city administrator search for now.
Who wants to join this current situation?" Councilman Joe Hall asked, saying that with the city's current situation and lawsuits against the city and mayor, not even the League of Minnesota Cities wants to help the council with collaboration services.
News Around the Country
CA: Apple Valley quickly promotes assistant town manager Guy Eisenbrey to top spot after predecessor bailed less than three months into tenure
CA: Doug Dunford announced on Monday that he is stepping down as Ceres city manager due to a family medical emergency
CA: Sean Charpentier, the Executive Director of the City/County Association of Governments for San Mateo County, selected to be Pacifica’s next city manager
CA: Whittier enlists robots to help city workers map sidewalk conditions
CO: Colorado cities and towns consider water use restrictions amid drought
FL: People can only take so much crazy! Palm Coast Assistant City Manager Lauren Johnston is leaving to take leadership role with school district
IA: Tim Vick Enjoying New Role as Adel City Administrator (audio interview)
MA: After two decades, Chelmsford Town Manager Paul Cohen to leave role in May
MN: St. Paul to pay family of teen shot and critically injured by parks and rec employee $9.5 million
MO: Festus believes data center has the potential to generate $1.3 BILLION in taxes over 25 years.
NC: Columbus County Manager Eddie Madden is going back to Elizabethtown where he previously served as the town manager for 13 years
OH: Piqua City Manager L. Paul Oberdorfer said that he will retire effective April 30
OK: KFOR Investigation reveals former Fairview City Manager Jerry Eubanks accused of embezzlement
OK: Sand Springs city council members welcomed a Google data center. Now they face a recall.
OR: Roseburg City Manager Nikki Messenger plans to retire at the end of June
SC: Atlantic Beach mayor pro tem blasts town manager for “libelous personal attacks” as feud escalates
TN: Unhappy with size of candidate pool and process, Greeneville council pauses city manager search and will likely hire a professional recruitment firm
TX: Balcones Heights Mayor Rodriguez locked out of city hall amid toxic workplace claims
TX: Caryn Riggs, Bedford’s ACM and CFO, is stepping down to join the consulting firm ZacTax
VA: Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields announced his intention to retire after 23 years of service, city manager since in 2007
Contracts & Compensation
AZ: Sahuarita council OKs raise for town manager, bumped to $228,000
CA: Tiburon Town Manager Greg Chanis gets 4% bump to $280,687
FL: Employment contract approved for the next Sarasota city manager with $279,000 salary; other compensation details listed
FL: Stuart hires first-time city manager Michael Giardino in at $195,000, which is $100,000 less than his predecessor
Recent City Manager Unfiltered Podcast Episodes
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