Sidney searching for assistant city manager

Now that the City of Sidney has filled the months-vacant city manager position, work is underway to filled remaining administrative vacancies within the city.

Ed Sadler was officially appointed as the new city manager of Sidney in late March, filling the position vacated by longtime city manager Gary Person in August last year.

The city manager serves as the city's chief executive officer (CEO) and is responsible for managing day-to-day operations. City clerk/treasurer Geri Anthony has served as interim city manager since Person's resignation.

Person served as the city manager of Sidney for 16 years before resigning amidst controversy involving former Sidney Police Chief B.J. Wilkinson stemming from an incident with John Hehnke, a 10-year city employee who was fired from his position as public services director in August as well.

In April, the city began advertising for the position of assistant city manager, which Sadler said is an updated version of the public services director.

"Same money, 80 percent the same duties," Sadler said. "But because of the 20 percent I'm going to change, I decided it would be more appropriate, and I'd probably have better luck getting what I want, by assigning that title to it."

According to the job description posted to the City of Sidney website, the position "will provide leadership suport and assistance to the City Manager, including analyzing and implementing policies and procedures, assisting in the preparation of the budget."

The assistant city manager would also oversee environmental and and construction projects, as well as the city public works departments, which include electric, parks, solid waste, street, water and wastewater.

Sadler said that oversight is the same as what was handled previously by the public services director, although he "ramped back" on some of the duties while adding more administrative duties to the position.

"More than half the departments answered to that position," he said. "And it was such a menagerie, I couldn't even envision, especially in a small town like Sidney, finding someone who was actually qualified to run all of those departments."

Sadler said he also envisions the position as one where he can train his successor.

"It's not that Geri (Anthony) didn't do a good job," he said. "It's just they had no obvious internal selection when they hired me.

"And then if council chooses that person to replace me, when the time comes, wonderful. If not, at least they will have somebody with a lot of experience to do the interim."

The salary range for the position, according to the posted job description is between $78,000 and $84,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.

Sadler's salary as city manager is set at $113,000 a year.

Sadler said hiring for the position is within his purvue, and would not require action from the council.

"Because it's not a new position, and it's not any more money," he said. "I've changed titles. We do that all the time."

As of last week, no candidates had applied to the position. Sadler said he is hoping to close it by the end of May.

"I will probably post it nationally," he said.

Sadler said he is also busy working to fill the vacant police chief and building inspector positions. For the police chief, he said that 18 candidates have applied to the position, and the city would be forming a committee, which will include members of the public, for the interview process.

"I was actually surprised where we had candidates from," Sadler said. "Virginia, D.C., Florida, Texas, some local. It surprised me how far-flung they are."

The salary range for the police chief position is between $62,785 and $84,233 annually.

For more information on the assistant city manager position, visit cityofsidney.org.