SCOTT CITY LOOKS AHEAD IN HIRING ADMINISTRATOR

SCOTT CITY -- Scott City will "invest in the future" when it hires a city administrator at tonight's city council meeting.

Mayor Larry Forhan said, "Gone are the days when cities like ours can be run on a part-time basis."

The city council has budgeted for a city administrator, and tonight's council vote for the nominee is expected to be unanimous.

Someone needs to be in charge of the city on a daily basis, Forhan said, adding:

"If you have a $1.5 million business, you wouldn't run it on a part-time basis."

The administrator's job will be similar to a company president who reports to a board of directors, he said.

The council will oversee his work the same as it oversees other departments, Forhan said.

The administrator will help the city comply with federal and state regulations, apply for grants, handle the city budget and supervise city employees, Forhan said.

And, the administrator will help the mayor and city council with some of their former tasks, and do them in a more timely fashion, he added.

The system will work with mayor and council passing ordinances and acting as a legislative body; the administrator will be the city's executive officer.

The administrator will be expected to plan street improvements and be involved in the city's economic development efforts.

"We not only want him to take care of our present industries and businesses, but to try and get new ones to come to Scott City," Forhan said.

The administrator also will act as purchasing agent and handle personnel policy and evaluation.

The city had discussed the need for an administrator for 2 1/2 years and had a law on the books to allow hiring an administrator since the mid-1980s.

Money for the position was placed in the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Forhan said the city is using carry-over funds from last year to help pay for the administrator.

That carry over was between $25,000 and $50,000 higher than usual, Forhan said.

Department heads were very good in holding down their budget requests for this year, he added.

Details on the administrator and his contract will be decided at tonight's city council meeting at 8.

The city had advertised the upper end of the salary range for the new position at $32,000.