The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

The city of Rhinelander is moving closer to hiring a new city administrator.

Current administrator and City Attorney Phil Parkinson said city officials are hoping that happens before the new city council takes office in late April.

The city Finance Committee got its first look at 27 applications last week. The committee was supposed to meet with consultant Steve Hintz of Public Administration Associates (PAA) Thursday, but poor road conditions prevented him from getting to Rhinelander.

Hintz, a retired political science professor from UW-Oshkosh, is a partner with PAA, which has helped close to 160 Wisconsin communities find new city administrators. He said the city will continue to gather more information on potential candidates as the process progresses.

Hintz said the right candidate will ideally have experience in local government, though candidates with significant careers in other fields can be just as capable. He said education and career patterns are also important.

“Fundamentally, you're looking for experience, someone who'd ultimately be a good fit for Rhinelander,” Hintz said.

Parkinson said the committee has selected applicants they have greater interest in, but the process is still early on and securing a new administrator before the end of April is not a certainty.

“I've given a proposed timeline, but I made a commitment to the city that I'd stay until a new person is hired,” Parkinson said.

Once the new administrator is on board and Parkinson steps down, the city will also have to work out an arrangement for its legal work. Parkinson is resigning his position as city attorney as well.

“I would be interested in being rehired to do legal work,” Parkinson said, adding that the possibility hasn't been discussed extensively.

Tell us what you think...

Comments »

RobinK wrote on Jan 25, 2008 10:34 AM:

" Experience is good, but so are new ideas and a fresh perspective to things. Rhinelander needs that, for sure! "

JoeB wrote on Jan 21, 2008 11:33 AM:

" Let's hope our city officials have the foresite to bring somebody in that 'believes' growth is good...and will do something to promote it. Somebody that 'believes' we need to make our area attractive for industry that is new, not based in the old. Basically somebody that says 'yes, let's try that'.
"

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