Nienstedt resigns city manager post, effective Dec. 31

Richard Nienstedt announced he will leave his position as Fort Scott city manager by Dec. 31 and, as a result, the city commission voted unanimously on Thursday to approve a severance agreement with Nienstedt.

Commissioners made the decision at a special meeting Thursday evening at City Hall. At the beginning of the meeting, they went into executive session and returned 10 minutes later to announce that Nienstedt has resigned effective Dec. 31.

Nienstedt had been in discussions with the commission for several months leading up to Thursday's announcement, according to a prepared statement. Commissioners and city staff went into executive sessions at the end of a number of commission meetings recently to discuss matters of non-elected personnel.

Nienstedt acknowledged in a prepared statement that Fort Scott has been "besieged with turmoil" over the past several years. "I truly hope that this (resigning) helps the community to begin a healing process and continue to move forward in addressing community growth," he said in the statement.

Upon his departure, Nienstedt will receive six months of aggregate salary payable in monthly installments. Nienstedt's current salary is $65,671. Also, he will receive any vacation and sick leave he has accumulated along with continuing payment of health insurance up to six months following his departure or until he has acquired other health insurance, according to the severance agreement.

Nienstedt agreed to notify the city at least 45 days in advance of leaving his position for another job, if he decides to vacate the city manager position in Fort Scott before the agreed-upon departure date of Dec. 31, according to the agreement.

The document said Nienstedt is leaving the city to seek new opportunities in "advancement of his professional employment."

Nienstedt, 55, has been city manager since August 1993. He said he came to Fort Scott because it displayed the values he and his family were looking for in a community. His children have been able to "gain a good foundation in life as a result of being raised here," he said.

"It has been my honor and pleasure to serve Fort Scott during some very important years and work with many outstanding citizens, city commissioners and business leaders," he said in the statement. "I am proud of the accomplishments we have been involved in that are helping grow Fort Scott. Those accomplishments are possible because of good city commissions, outstanding staff and an involved citizenry."

The severance agreement has allowed the city to immediately start searching for a new city manager.