The search for a new Iola city administrator will continue, even though the list of applicants is down, likely because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interim City Administrator Corey Schinstock told Council members Monday roughly a dozen applicants have filed to replace Sid Fleming, who resigned in March. Representatives from Strategic Government Resources, the city’s search firm, have hopes for 40 applications by the April 21 filing deadline.
With the pandemic affecting virtually all walks of life, HGR now expects the number to be about 20 by the filing deadline.
Rather than postpone the search, HGR encouraged the city to continue with the search process.
“If we decide we don’t want to move forward with interviews, we don’t have to,” Schinstock said.
The only added costs to the city if it waits past the current timeline would be if Iola has to advertise once again for the vacancy.
There are no additional fees to continue using HGR’s services, he noted.
“They’re with us until the end,” Schinstock said.
The city is paying HGR $9,950 to guide the search.
The plan, for now, is for a new administrator to be seated by the end of summer.
THE CITY will solicit the aid of a local Realtor to oversee the sale of a parcel of land containing the old Cedarbrook Golf Course clubhouse.
Council members voted, 7-1, to reject a bid from Tam Carlson of TC Pointe Royale Development to buy the land, clubhouse included for $10,501. Carlson’s bid was the only one received out of three entities the city approached about the property.
City Councilman Carl Slaugh noted the land was appraised altogether at $46,920.
“For me, it’s a matter whether this was the right tool to advertise for sale vs. going through a real estate agent,” Slaugh said. “The question we have to decide on is whether this was the appropriate process, and whether the value was appropriate.”
Carlson acquired 30 lots from the city in 2008 to build a rental housing complex, plus another 30 about two years later for other development projects.
Ownership of the clubhouse reverted to the city as part of its land deal with Macha Enterprises once Cedarbrook closed its doors in 2019.
