A decade ago, a city manager’s vehicle was observed pulling up to a drug motel being surveilled by his police department. After his controversial resig-firing a few months back, this new detail has come to light and now the State Bureau of Investigation is taking a look-see.
In other news, a Texas city manager was arrested on a felony gun charge and an interim CAO in Canada is warning that his community is mere weeks away from insolvency.
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
IL: Streator - City Manager (3/23/2026) | Arndt Municipal Support
MO: Kirkwood - Chief Administrative Officer (3/6/2026) | CB-Assoc
SC: Blythewood - Town Manager (Until Filled) | Parker Poe Consulting
TX: Morgan’s Point Resort - City Manager (3/13/2026) | Clear Career
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: Marble Falls - Finance Director (2/7/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Odessa - Chief Financial Officer (First Review 2/22/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Clyde City Administrator Arrested on Felony Gun Charge
Rodger Brown’s tenure as the Clyde city administrator has been bumpy — to say the least. A few months back he got himself into hot water with some members of his community after he posted on Facebook during a contentious election cycle.
Last week, he was arrested for carrying a firearm in a prohibited place down in Austin which is classified as a felony. Many are speculating that he may have been carrying inside a bar based on the 1AM booking time of his arrest, but no details have been released.
You may recall that Brown was hired after the Clyde city council attempted to circumvent their recruiter, Clear Career Professionals, and interview J.B. Pritchett for the job. Pritchett is the former La Marque city manager who is facing multiple criminal charges related to stolen valor and setting fire to his own fence. I interviewed a local reporter about the wild story in Episode 116 of the City Manager Unfiltered podcast.
NC: SBI probing 2016 drug surveillance involving ex-Cary manager. Experts favor review.
About three weeks after Cary City Manager Sean Stegall assumed his duties, his police department observed his vehicle pulling into a drug motel they had been surveilling on a Friday night. They subsequently followed Stegall’s vehicle back to his home.
Now, a decade later, information about this episode has been released to the public after allegations of financial improprieties and other issues and the SBI is investigating it. The police chief says he wants absolute transparency. And so far, none of the reports have clearly identified Stegall as the driver or whether he actually purchased any drugs.
However, Stegall admitted to being the driver several years later when he told a former councilmember in 2023 that he was flagged down by a woman needing assistance.
CANADA: Officials Warned They Are Running Out of Cash — Quickly
The Town of Gibbons is facing a financial crisis so severe that administrators told Sturgeon County council the municipality is weeks away from being unable to meet basic obligations.
Interim chief administrative officer (CAO) Tim Duhamel presented to Sturgeon County council on Feb. 10, describing what he called an unprecedented situation of “practical insolvency and bankruptcy”, rather than a typical municipal viability issue.
Duhamel breaks down how the town got into dire financial straits in the article.
News Around the Country
AZ: Most of Phoenix’s top-paid city employees are cops
CA: Layne Long announces retirement as Marina’s city manager after 13 years
CA: Richmond POA Blast City Manager for Inaction, Want Officers to Return to Work
FL: Inverness names 22-year veteran of Citrus County Sheriff’s Office as their new assistant city manager
IA: Des Moines city manager recommends controversial Crow Tow for contract
IN: After more than three decades in office, Fort Recovery village administrator Randy Diller will retire at the end of the month
ME: Knox County administrator is not resigning but actually continuing in the job on a part-time basis
MI: FINALLY! More than 3 years after separating from their former manager, Muskegon Heights makes it official with Pearlette Merriweather
MI: Ortonville Village Manager Matt Ryan placed on an immediate administrative leave and 60 day probation following failed motion to terminate
MI: WHO IS SHAY GALLAGHER? One-on-one with Walker's incoming city manager
MN: Duluth city administrator's departure raises troubling questions (OPINION)
NC: Lake Waccamaw town manager comments on his resignation
NC: City of Wilmington fires public services director, recycling superintendent following investigation
OR: Assistant City Manager Jeanna Troha unanimously voted in as Wilsonville’s city manager
SC: Chapin makes payout to former administrator after eliminating position. Where’s the money coming from?
TN: 41 DUI arrests by Tennessee trooper dismissed after many drivers were deemed sober
TN: Lakeland City Engineer Emily Harrell tapped to lead community; becomes first female city manager in their 50 year history
TX: Seguin’s deputy city manager Ricardo “Rick” Cortes retires after nearly 20 years
PA: Judge Sets Deadline For Former Dubois City Manager Herm Suplizio who allegedly stole $1.5 million
VA: New manager comes to Christiansburg after big-city experience, controversy
Compensation & Contracts
IL: Mayor starts process to replace retiring Sandwich city administrator; council sets salary range at $110,000 to $160,000