Nevada City Council discusses search for new city manager

The Nevada City Council is looking for a few former city council members and mayors, as well as a Nevada business person or two to help them select a new permanent city manager.

Nevada Mayor Mike Hutchens said that anyone interested in serving on a committee to compare applications from city manager candidates with a profile developed by the current city council for their ideal city manager, and eliminate those who do not fit the requirements, should contact any council member or Julie Lewis, city clerk.

Hutchens told the council that Missouri Municipal League has provided the city with their recommendations for a standard selection process, which starts with the council determining what the city needs in a permanent city manager.

"I have a copy of a questionnaire for the council to fill out and return to the city clerk to compile the answers to make a profile for what we're looking for in a new city manager," Hutchens said.

The questionnaire is the same as the one developed by the consultant the city hired to find a new manager after the resignation of Craig Hubler in 2006.

After the city clerk compiles the results of the questionnaires, it will be returned to the council members to look over before their June 16 meeting. During that council meeting they plan to come up with the information they want to put in the advertisement to run in selected publications.

Hutchens said that he thought that the council needs to include education, experience and salary and that the council needs to consider increasing both the salary and the qualifications.

"The MML suggested that a specific salary should be included in the advertisement. The salary can be negotiated," he said.

"It's something that we need to look at," he said.

Hutchens said that he thinks that they need to look at a higher salary than was offered in 2006, and also raise the qualifications for potential applicants.

The second step is to recruit applicants through advertising in various publication.

"The MML recommends eight weeks for advertising," Hutchens said.

The third step is to screen the applicants based on the profile the council develops and only review the applicants who meet the profile, he said.

The final step is to invite the two or three finalists back for a second interview and take them on a tour of the city, he said.

Hutchens said that another possible step would be to visit the applicants city and talk to people there.

"The MML says that from beginning to end it is a six- to seven-month process," Hutch-ens said.

"I think it's a pretty realistic time line -- it makes a lot of sense," Jayne Novak said.

In other business the council:

* Voted 4-0 to adopt Resolution No. 1260 approving the floor plan for the City-County Community Center project.

* Voted 4-0, with Tim Wells excused, to approve a bid of $5,500 from Gayman Construction, Bolivar, to bore a hole under Ash Street south of the City-County Community Center to relocate the utilities that currently run down Hunter Street.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on first reading a special ordinance extending interim city manager Harlan Moore's contract by six months, to end in June 2010.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on first reading a special ordinance approving Change Order No. 4 to the city's contract with Rosetta Construction LLC for making improvements to the city's west interceptor sewer line. The change order eliminates the part of interceptor line crossing under U.S. Highway 54 because of difficulty of removal and the existing line is in good condition. This will reduce the cost of the contract by $4,146.08. The change order also extends the contract by 185 days, from April 28, 2009 to Oct. 20, 2009 because of high water and delays in getting easement rights.

* Voted 4-0 to establish a permanent fee structure for the enclosed shelter house at Marmaduke Park. All uses will have to pay a refundable $100 security/cleaning deposit. Non-profit groups and local government will be charged $25 for two hours and $50 for four hours and $10 per hour for each hour over four hours. General public can rent the building for $37.50 for two hours or $75 for four hours, with each hour over four hours costing $10. For businesses the charge will be $50 for two hours and $100 for four hours, with a $20 charge for each additional hour.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on first and second readings an emergency ordinance amending the lease with Vernon County for property to be used for the City-County Community Center to include the county owned property under the vacated portion of Hunter Street.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on second reading a contract with Snyder Construction Company, Joplin, not to exceed $400,000 for the city's 2009 street tax construction projects.

* Voted 3-0, with Seth Barrett abstaining, to pass on second reading a lease-purchase agreement for the City-County Community Center, with the lease being paid with proceeds from the sale of Certificates of Participation. This will pay for the costs of acquiring, constructing, and installing improvements and additions to the current community recreation center.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on second reading a special ordinance transferring a surplus city lot at 715 E. Ashland to Habitat for Humanity to build a single family house.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on second reading a special ordinance amending the city's agreement with Vernon County to provide VoIP telephone service to the new Vernon County Jail. The amendment changes wording on the ordinance, but does not change the agreement.