Is your performance so great that your councilmember (or city manager if you are a department head) would suggest that you would have multiple immediate offers if they were foolish enough to allow you to walk out the door?
A Michigan manager has earned that reputation with at least one of his councilmembers.
A South Carolina manager graciously bows out of his job and only asks for minimal compensation after he alleges the council breached his contract. We have more data center drama and some scuttlebutt about some nudity in the background of a councilman’s Zoom feed during a meeting.
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
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
NM: Ruidoso - Economic Development Director (5/6/2026) | Clear Career
NM: Ruidoso - Finance Director (5/6/2026) | Clear Career
NM: Ruidoso - Water Resource Director (5/6/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Dumas - Finance Director (5/6/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Lufkin - City Engineer (3/30/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Marble Falls - Finance Director (Until Filled) | Clear Career
TX: Odessa - Assistant City Attorney (5/10/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Odessa - Chief Financial Officer (5/8/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Weatherford - Assistant Director of Water Utilities (Until Filled) | Clear Career
TX: Wichita Falls - Chief Building Official (4/29/2026) | Clear Career
MI: Raise for Sterling Heights City Manager Draws Passionate Discussion
Sterling Heights Councilman Michael Radtke Jr. supported giving City Manager Mark Vanderpool a $25,000 raise to $275,000. It was narrowly approved on a 4-3 vote.
“I can’t support this kind of raise,” Councilman Yanez said. “It’s outrageous.”
“At the end of the day, he does a very good job,” said Radtke. “If we let him go, he would have five job offers before he drove out of the parking lot. He’s earned his accolades.”
Every public sector executive reading this newsletter should strive to have such a reputation — that any number of communities would kill to have you and gladly make you an offer if your current employer is foolish enough to let you go.
SC: Atlantic Beach Drama Coming to End as Town Manager Lets Governing Body Off Easy with Generous Settlement Proposal
Updating previous coverage.
The town of Atlantic Beach is once again seeking a new manager after accepting town manager Adrian Jones offer to settle his breach of contract claims for just $10,000. This concludes his brief 9-month tenure and should end the feud between him and an extremely combative mayor pro tem John David Jr.
David recently held a press conference and attacked Jones for making “libelous personal attacks” against him. Both men had filed ethics complaints against each other.
Data Center Drama
Earlier this year, I wrote that data centers were going to be the hottest topic of the year and so far I would say that that is spot on. Over the last couple weeks, I have highlighted the plight of Coweta, Oklahoma City Manager Julie Casteen. The challenges she is facing are the result of fallout from a contentious data center debate.
She recently addressed some of the issues in an interview you can read here.
In Festus, Missouri, the allure of more than $1 billion in tax revenue over the next 25 years did not mollify irate residents. Every single incumbent was defeated in last week’s election.
An Indianapolis city councilor says his home was shot at 13 times and someone left a “No Data Centers” sign behind.
News Around the Country
CA: Casinos, vacations, altered records. Ex-Fresno Arts Council manager admits to $1.8M theft
CA: Dr. Stone James resigns as Twentynine Palms City Manager
CO: Chad Hull, budget analyst for the city of Littleton, selected to be Blue River town manager
GA: A 2.2 mile trail linking downtown Chickamauga to the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park has been named after a former city manager John Culpepper
IA: Glenwood council outlines hiring process for city administrator; sets salary range of $123,000 to $133,000
KS: Debate over Salina hamburger stand's mural could head to the Supreme Court
MA: Mass. AG's office investigating Lawrence mayor over alleged illegal recording at City Hall
ME: Lisbon Town Council promotes ATM Sarah Bennett to town manager
MI: Lincoln Township Manager Kacey Dominguez reportedly plans to resign from her position
MN: Blue Earth Deputy County Administrator Josh Milow tapped to succeed retiring Bob Meyer
MN: Winona County administrator shares some details on cyberattack
NC: After Town Manager Fallout, Cary Aims for “the Most Robust Budget Process We’ve Ever Had”
NM: Ousted Raton City Commissioner Neil Segotta tapped to be interim manager
OH: Girard’s Safety Service Director Mark Ragozine chosen to be the next Boardman Township Administrator; replaces Jason Loree who had to medically retire
NY: Deputy Administrator Ben Swanson will become Beacon’s next city administrator after Chris White retires in June
NY: Update: Walden village manager placed on paid administrative leave following federal indictment for tax evasion
PA: Milton Police Chief Curt Zettlemoyer will serve dual permanent roles as borough manager, too
TX: After I-Team report uncovering pattern of complaints, Fort Worth City Council discusses first responders workers' comp issues
VA: The new Culpeper County clerk to the board was hired three weeks ago. He's now also interim county administrator.
VT: Getting to Know New Montpelier City Manager Kelly McNicholas Kury
WA: Nudity in Orting city leader’s Zoom background sparks backlash over meetings
CANADA: Humboldt City Manager Joe Day announces retirement
Contracts & Compensation
IL: Peoria city manager scheduled for another raise. Here's how much (and salaries for other area managers listed)
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