City manager search runs past target date

By Michael Glover

The Fort Scott Tribune

_

The goal of the Fort Scott City Commission was to have hired a city manager by now, but the commission has hit obstacles in the search.

Commissioners last month were ready to hire a candidate who they felt would've been a good fit for Fort Scott. However, a major health crisis struck the applicant's immediate family that prevented him from relocating to Fort Scott, according to commissioners Gary Bukowski and Nick Graham.

"He was our best candidate we had," Bukowski said. "We felt like he was probably the one we would've liked to have offered the job to."

Since then, the commission has touched base with the candidate, whose name wasn't released, and his family's situation has improved, Bukowski said.

Bukowksi didn't say if the commission is going to re-visit whether to offer the job to him.

"We had a candidate we were all happy with and would have been about as good a fit as I could have imagined in regards to his views on the stuff that is a priority to me (planning long-term and short-term, economic development, downtown, etc)," Graham said.

Bukowksi said there are a couple applicants the commission is considering interviewing.

The commission has been searching for a city manager since July, when former city manager Richard Nienstedt told the commission he was resigning. Nienstedt left the position in October.

The commission found out some information about another potential city manager they "were not excited about" and subsequently dropped that person from contention, Bukowski said.

"It's really discouraging not seeing as many good, qualified people as we would like to," Bukowski said. "Everybody is anxious to keep the process moving forward, but nobody wants to see somebody in here we don't think would be good for Fort Scott."

Bukowski said they would, however, like to fill the critical position at the earliest possible date.

"When we find the right person, we'll make an offer to them, Bukowski said."

Graham said the city is currently scheduling interviews with some "really good prospects."

"I think we all would like to see someone selected by the end of March," Graham said.

The commission was on track to have the position filled by now, which was its goal, Graham said.

"I know there has been some understandable concern as to the length the search has taken, but we know this is the most critical and important decision any of us will make in our time as commissioners, so we want to make sure we do it right."