If you are a finance director and you want to lose your job — start by losing a $900,000 purchase order and forcing the governing body to tap into emergency funds.
If you are a police chief and you want to piss some people off — take a selfie with a career criminal your department arrested and post it on Facebook.
After the job postings we have a veteran city manager talking about one of the most bureaucratically complicated issues he’s ever encountered, a city firing a recruiter it has worked with for 20 years, and more…
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
KS: Police chief doubles down after being criticized over how department uses social media
A small town Kansas police chief doubled-down on his social media practices in response to critics at a recent council meeting. Kechi Chief Braden Moore recently took a selfie with a habitual, repeat offender in the back of a patrol car and that along with the general tone and demeanor drew the ire of some.
“This is a very unforgiving career field, so if we can use humor to help us get through day-to-day, we’re going to do that,” said Moore. “If you’re sensitive about the Facebook page of the Kechi, Kansas Police Department, scroll past it. scroll past it. You don’t have to look at it. you don’t have to read it. move on.”
IL: Glencoe gets trains to silence horns…finally
Glencoe Village Manager Phil Kiraly and his team have finally succeeded in getting some peace and quiet for their residents.
The increased train noise in town was a result of new safety technology installed on all commuter trains, Glencoe officials have repeatedly said, often noting that the technology does not recognize the historical exemption prohibiting train horns that the town was previously granted.
Kiraly said that, “(This was) one of the most bureaucratically complicated issues that I’ve ever encountered in my quarter of a century in local government.”
NC: Interim city manager quit after talks over mayor’s office
Yeah — I am not believing this story.
Supposedly, the interim city manager for Kinston quit just two week’s into the job because the mayor wanted an office that was ADA compliant. This is according to a guy who claims to be the mayor’s “chief of staff” but who is not actually a city employee.
To me — it reeks of a mayor and his cronies not staying in their lane and a city manager ejecting because he doesn’t need to deal with their bullshit.
News Around the Country
AZ: Still Fuming! Scottsdale mayor lashes out during 'State of the City'
CA: Who Leaked a Failed Closed Door Vote to Nix Anaheim’s City Manager?
CA: Just days later — Anaheim’s city manager resigns
CA: Former Santa Rosa city manager received $250,000 payout as she headed to new job in Sacramento
FL: Warrant claims 'misconduct' in Clewiston government, City Manager says 'no comment'
FL: Flagler Beach City Manager Passes Florida Ethics Investigation
FL: Criminal investigation opened into Parks and Rec Director in Fruitland Park over Amazon purchases
FL: Finance director ousted by High Springs city manager after “years-old $900,000 purchase order” has to paid out of emergency funds
FL: Lake City council offers settlement to former city manager over separation pay
GA: Auburn seeking to establish City Manager form of government
IL: Search warrant reveals FBI is investigating former Carlyle police chief
MI: How much is too much? Social media users question the Kalamazoo city manager's pay
NC: Morehead City Manager Chris Turner resigns after request from City Council
NC: After more than 27 years of service, Richlands Town Administrator Gregg Whitehead announced Wednesday that he is retiring, effective Dec. 31
TX: Magnolia City Council removes city administrator (THERE IS MORE TO THIS STORY)
TX: Weimar City Council appointed Director of Finance and Interim City Manager David Mason to be the new City Manager
VA: Surry County Administrator Melissa Rollins to retire effective July 1
WA: Shock as Bainbridge Island cancels recruitment firm contract for new city manager search; has worked with firm for 20 years
WY: ACM Todd Feezer appointed City Manager of Laramie
WY: A former Cody mayor has accepted the Rawlins City Manager position
Data Centers in the News
MO: Kansas City Council committee advances resolution that would require city manager to review data center impacts
OH: Data centers approved in Jerome Township despite nine-month moratorium
PA: 'Boutique' data center eyed in North Coventry - Will be air cooled instead of using water
SD: Madison says proposed cryptocurrency data center won't raise electric rates
WI: 'Finally able to breathe': DeForest data center critics get their wish as city manager states public sentiment impacted decision
Compensation & Contracts
MI: 8-month retroactive raise to May 2025 boosts Ann Arbor city administrator’s salary to $300K
In Memoriam
GA: Conyers former City Manager Tony Lucas dies roughly 20 months after retiring
VA: Former Isle of Wright County Administrator W.B. ‘Sonny’ Owen dies one week shy of 96th birthday