NEW CITY MANAGER BRINGS FRESH IDEAS, LOTS OF EXPERIENCE

A new face will be at the helm of Cape Girardeau city government as of Oct. 16. Michael G. Miller of Ferguson, Mo., has been named Cape Girardeau's fifth city manager in the last 30 years.

His credentials are impressive. Miller, 58, currently is a management consultant in St. Louis County and previously directed seven city governments in Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. He opened his consulting business after serving as city manager of Ferguson from April 1989 to November 1993.

Miller describes himself as a people person who works to solve problems and build rapport between the city and the public. Local councilmen praised Miller's record as a goal-setter and a manager who won't spend all his time behind a desk.

He brings new insight and some interesting notions to the job. Miller is interested in privatizing government services to save money. In Ferguson, he contracted for private garbage collection and disposal, saving the city some $600,000 over three years.

A native of the Catskill Mountains in New York, Miller has called the Midwest home for 30 years.

The council deserves praise for its handling of the hiring process. The openness that surrounded the process served the city well. Not only did the council get an opportunity to assess the candidates firsthand, but so did the public. The names of the five finalists were released, and each finalist was afforded a chance for press interviews.

The council faced a tough choice. All five candidates seemed top-notch, and all had their various strengths. The hiring process allowed councilmen to closely compare the finalists -- both in credentials and manner. The fact the final vote was unanimous represents a good hiring strategy on the part of the council. This show of unity gives Miller a good start with both the city and the council.