84 VIE FOR CITY MANAGER POST

Some 84 people have applied for the Cape Girardeau city manager post, with the application deadline more than a week away.

There was an 85th applicant, but he withdrew after landing another job.

Among the applicants are several from Missouri. There also are applicants from California, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky and the New York and New Jersey area.

Two applicants from the local area have applied, although neither lives in Cape Girardeau.

The applicants include women and blacks.

Human Resources Director Dan Ward said about two-thirds of the applicants appear qualified to well-qualified.

City Manager J. Ronald Fischer has announced he will retire in August after seven years as the city's chief administrator.

The application deadline is June 15, with the candidates expected to fill out and return questionnaires by June 30.

Ward said the 20 questions will help the council determine who would be best for the job.

So far, only three applicants have returned questionnaires.

The entire council will screen the applications. Mayor Al Spradling III said council members will read the resumes and the responses to the questionnaires.

Spradling hopes the list can be narrowed by July 15 to each councilman's top 10. After that, the council will have to meet to settle on five finalists to bring in for interviews before making a decision.

The job has been advertised nationally in trade publications and in several general circulation newspapers, including the Southeast Missourian.

Fischer makes $59,800, but no salary figure has been set for a new city manager. The ad states that the salary is negotiable.

Ward said the current salaries of applicants range from about $35,000 to more than $100,000.

The council wants an experienced manager, preferably someone who has had five to 10 years of experience as a city manager or assistant city manager in a city of at least 10,000 population, and a master's degree in public or business administration.

But the ad does leave the door open for private company executives to apply.

"I don't think the council wanted to close the door on any well-qualified applicant, whether they have been in city government or not," Ward said.

The city has advertised for applicants who have demonstrated skills in leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, public relations, team building, finance and strategic planning.

HELP WANTED...

Sample questions from the Cape Girardeau city manager profile questionnaire:

How do you visualize the city manager's role in working with and supporting the city council?

What is the city manager's role and responsibility to individual citizens and groups?

Describe your personal approach to leadership and management.

Discuss the pros and cons of interacting with the media.

Describe your decision-making process.

What area(s) do you feel you have the greatest potential for improvement?

Candidates for city manager must answer 20 questions.