BROOKINGS – With City Manager Jeff Weldon announcing his plans to retire in June, the Brookings City Council will begin the process of finding his replacement, Mayor Keith Corbett said.
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BROOKINGS – With City Manager Jeff Weldon announcing his plans to retire in June, the Brookings City Council will begin the process of finding his replacement, Mayor Keith Corbett said.
“Jeff hasn’t hidden it from us. He knew the time was coming … the date was probably a little more fluid,” Corbett said.
“He’d always said when he got close to 60, he’d be thinking more serious about it. Today he’s 60,” Corbett said Friday. “It still kind of came as a surprise this morning when he gave me his intent to retire (letter).”
The council has been preparing.
“We’ve already got a plan in mind,” Corbett said.
“Something that’s very important to me is to maintain transparency throughout the process so the public understands everything we’re up to and no surprises,” he said.
The first thing Corbett will be doing is talking to other council members, the public and city staff to get input.
He expects the search to take a while.
“It’s imperative that we advertise nationwide for a position that important; it’s crucial that we look nationwide,” Corbett said.
Not just anyone will be considered for the job. Corbett figures they will be looking for someone with a master’s degree, background in public administration, and experience as a city manager, “preferably in a community the size of Brookings,” because the larger the population is, the more challenges there are, he said.
Once the field of candidates is narrowed, the council will make a decision and vote on the finalist. Corbett hopes that will be well before Weldon’s last day of June 30, so Weldon has a chance to help them get acclimated.
“It’s too busy of a job and too important of a job to have somebody just come in cold,” Corbett said.
While looking forward to the future, Corbett took a look back at what Weldon has accomplished.
“When you look at where Brookings is today and growing the last 10, 10 1/2 years, Jeff definitely had a huge impact on who we are as a city. Brookings is held in very high regard around the state and the nation and we can attribute a lot of that to Jeff’s professionalism and loyalty to the community. And he’s just done a great job,” Corbett said.
Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.
