Council Chooses Scott as New City Manager

The Sidney City Council Announced tonight (Tuesday, June 23) their choice of David Scott as the new City Manager.

Scott has been serving as the interim city manager following the retirement of former City Manager Ed Sadler.

Following the public announcement, Scott thanked the council for their time and commitment in research of a new city manager. Following Scott's comments, council members commended him as the new city manager.

"I think he was our most qualified candidate," said councilman Bob Olsen.

In in closing comments, councilman Burke Radcliffe thanked the city's police department for its commitment, and congratulated Scott for his selection as city manager.

"David, thank you for your leadership," said Mayor Roger Gallaway.

Scott was hired to the City of Sidney as finance director. He was announced in the last city council meeting as one of the three finalists in the previous city council meeting.

A few months ago, as snow was starting to wane and then- City Manager Ed Sadler was planning his journey into retirement, the Sidney City Council appointed David Scott as interim city manager.

By title, it is a task he has done before when in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Even with experience in Alaska, he is a native Nebraskan. He was born in Lincoln, attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, working for the university for 16 years while attending class and earning his bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance. He then earned his MBA from Perdue University.

He worked as a Business Office Manager at Perdue University and a Business Analyst for Nelnet, both in Lincoln, before moving to Bristol Bay, Alaska as the city's Finance Director. He moved to Sidney in May 2017 as the new Finance Director.

“It is nice to know they put their faith in me,” Scott said.

He said he did not initially apply for the job. The council interviewed a couple of candidates who “weren't a good fit,” he said.

He added he is accustomed to transparency and working with the public.

His management style is of working with the staff, adding the city has many long-time employees.

“I like more of a team approach,” he said. “We have a great team here.”

He said after consulting with staff, many decisions ultimately rests on the city manager's desk.

His few months as interim city manager have been a test by themselves. Two days into the assignment, the pandemic was announced with the restrictions set in place.

“It's been four months and it feels like weeks,” he said. “It's been a crazy ride.”

His peak into the future is similar to what council members and other city leaders want to see: a return to more business, expansion of current business and recouping of lost business.