Fort Scott resident named new city manager

After a brief executive session during a special meeting Monday afternoon, the Fort Scott City Commission unanimously decided to select local resident Dave Martin as the new city manager.

"I am very excited that I was chosen for the position," Martin said. "I just love Fort Scott and I love the opportunity, there is a lot of work that needs to be done and I'm ready to get started."

The commissioners said that they were impressed by Martin's passion and commitment to Fort Scott and the community.

"I think there is a lot of opportunity to help Fort Scott and serve Fort Scott," Martin said.

Having been involved with Mercy Board of Trustees, Mercy Foundation Board, Fort Scott Community College Endowment Association, past planning commissions, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, and several different committees, Martin impressed the commission with his community involvement.

"I think his knowledge of Fort Scott will ease the transition," Commissioner Jim Adams said.

Adams continued saying that Martin's knowledge of the city and community paired with newly promoted Assistant City Manager Susan Brown's knowledge of the state of Kansas operations would make them a "dynamic duo." Martin said he is excited to work with an established team.

"I do feel like we have a good team of workers ... I'm anxious to work with Susan Brown," Martin said. "Her getting promoted to assistant city manager was definitely a step in the right direction.

Commissioner Sam Mason said that this hire makes the first that he can remember in which a local resident of Fort Scott was hired to be the city manager. Martin said he wanted to stay in Fort Scott as he was looking for a career change.

"I wanted to stay here," Martin said. "I've raised four daughters in this community, my wife was born and raised here, and I've been here since 1980."

Martin said he feels he brings a lot of ideas to the table. He said he believes that economic development should be a main focus within the city and that communication must be improved.

"We've got to open up that communication level," he said. "I think communications is going to be the key."

In addition to opening up communications, Martin said that he plans to remain active in the community which he serves.

"I'm going to listen and be available for people ... I'm going to be in the community and available for people to talk to me and listen to the issues that need to be addressed," he said. "I think that's part of what the city manager needs to do is be visible."

Adams said that in efforts to be more aggressive and proactive, the commission looked at all options and thinks that hiring Martin, who is a local resident with no prior city manager experience could be a way to get fresh ideas and get the city moving in the right direction.

"For our community to move ahead we need to be looking out off the box," Adams said.

Martin previously worked as the Vice President of Warehouse and Distribution for Value Merchandise until March when he decided he wanted to make a career change in which he could make a difference in the community.

"I want to do something that what I feel is significant for the rest of my career," he said.

Martin's said he feels his previous work experience has given him the necessary administrative capabilities needed of a city manager and that his masters degree in human resources will prove beneficial when dealing with the community as well as the city employees.

"I'm looking forward to working with the city employees because they mean a great deal to us," he said.

Martin said he feels that his decision to apply for the position was the right choice. He said working as the city manager will give him the opportunity to make a significant impact and he was glad to have a lot of community support during the application process.

"I just felt like I had a lot of community support, wanting me to go for it," he said.

Martin's tentative start date will be Sept. 1, just days after outgoing Fort Scott City Manger Joe Turner's last day on Aug. 27.

The commission received 40 applications for the position in which they interviewed seven. Mason said it was a tough decision and that there were a lot of very good candidates to chose from.