ASSISTANT MANAGER CHANGING JOBS

Assistant City Manager Doug Leslie will end his job-juggling act and return to being the city's full-time public works director.

But first he will tackle the job of interim city manager.

On Monday, the City Council is expected to appoint him to administer city operations in the interim between the departure of City Manager J. Ronald Fischer and the hiring of a new manager.

Fischer's last day is Thursday, and the council won't select a new city manager for several weeks.

Leslie isn't a stranger to the job of city manager. He managed Nevada, Mo., for 11 years before coming to Cape Girardeau in April 1990 as assistant public works director. He was named public works director in July 1990.

Leslie has handled the duties of both public works director and assistant city manager since October 1993.

At Leslie's request, Fischer agreed to move Leslie back into a full-time role as public works director.

The change officially takes effect Saturday, only days before Fischer's retirement.

But Leslie said Thursday he won't return to the role of full-time public works director for perhaps a month or two, depending on how long it takes to get a new city manager on board.

Leslie said he wants to return exclusively to his public works role because the city has a large number of projects that need the attention of a full-time director.

Among those projects are $25 million in sewer improvements, maintenance of flood control structures along Cape LaCroix and Walker creeks, and planned improvements to the city's water system.

There also will be numerous street projects to tackle if voters approve a transportation sales tax in August, Leslie said.

He said the move comes at a good time because it will give the new city manager an opportunity to hire an assistant city manager.

"I think both positions will require full-time attention," Leslie said.

It is possible that the city won't even fill the assistant city manager position, Mayor Al Spradling III said.

That decision would rest with the new city manager, although the council could provide some advice, Spradling said.

The municipal budget includes funding for an assistant city manager.