Ark Valley News - Candidates have<BR>city administration experience</BR>

Candidates have
city administration experience

By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: June 20, 2019

Three finalists for the job of Valley Center city administrator were in town last week for interviews and to meet city staff and the public.

Each has experience in the top post of a municipality.

Brent Clark is a former city administrator in Grand Island, Neb., and in Broken Bow, Neb.

Jeff Porter, who is from Winfield, is the current city administrator in Medicine Lodge.

Jonathan Roberts, an economic development consultant, was city administrator in Spring Hill for 15 years.

Each candidate went through a series of interviews on June 14. Later in the day, they were at a community meet-and-greet session, where city staff and residents had a chance to meet them.

The city council is scheduled to meet in executive session Tuesday (June 18), likely to discuss the candidates.

A final selection may be announced later this week or next week as the city looks to replace Scott Hildebrand, who was fired in January.

Brent Clark

Clark was city administrator in Grand Island for two months. Hired as assistant city administrator in December 2018, Clark worked alongside the retiring city administrator and then stepped into the top role on March 1.

Clark worked for two months before mutually agreeing with the Grand Island mayor to part ways.

The mayor said there was a difference in management priorities and styles.

Clark agreed, saying: "The mayor and myself recognized early on there was a difference in managerial styles. It was something we were not aware of when we started to partner together during his tenure. We identified it and mutually agreed to part ways. There are no hard feelings on both sides."

Clark said he wasn't happy in the position.

"I like to create a positive, happy, enjoyable workplace, an atmosphere where people are excited to come to work and are excited about serving the community," he said. "Things I enjoy most about my job as an administrator just weren't there for me."

Clark, who is from a suburb of Minneapolis, Minn., was previously a city administrator in Broken Bow, Neb., for four years and city administrator in Dakota City, Neb., for three and a half years.

He said he's "chased dogs, read water meters in the snow" and performed many duties in his previous municipal positions.

Clark said he was impressed with Valley Center.

"It's just an incredible community," he said. "… Valley Center really emphasizes the quality of life. Everyone was so welcoming when my wife and I came down last week."

Clark said he liked Valley Center's steady population growth and opportunities for continued residential and commercial expansion.

Clark and his wife have two daughters, ages 7 and 5.

Jeff Porter

From Winfield, Porter has been city administrator in Medicine Lodge since October 2014.

A Wichita State University graduate, Porter interned with Sedgwick County government early in his career.

"I'm at a point in my career that I was looking for the next set of challenges that I can really get my arms around, and help Valley Center move forward and become its best self," Porter said.

Porter said he also wanted to come back to the area to be closer to his girlfriend and his siblings.

He said Valley Center has a lot going for it.

"It's an interesting community," Porter said. "There are a lot of opportunities when it comes to its proximity to a metropolitan area."

Porter said his experience working in a small community will help him in Valley Center.

"I have a slightly different bent than someone who has spent their entire career in a metro area," he said. "… I've had to do a lot of things. I've had to wear a lot of hats. I think that will help make it faster to hit the ground running."

Jonathan Roberts

Roberts was city administrator in Spring Hill for 15 years until he resigned in July 2017. He served as executive director at the Franklin County Development Council and is now an economic development consultant, working with private developers.

He said he wants to return to the public sector.

"There's never been a field that's given me more gratification," he said. "… On a daily basis, public service provides you with a lot of gratification. You see your efforts pay off in the quality of life of the people around you."

Valley Center's proximity to Wichita has its drawbacks and opportunities, Roberts said.

"It's a lot like Spring Hill (near Olathe in the Kansas City metro area)," he said. "I'm very familiar with that."

He said being near a larger city gives Valley Center some recognition. Wichita also provides resources to help Valley Center, such as a market for businesses and job opportunities for residents.

"The downside is competition," he said. "You've got to compete in the marketplace with a larger organization that has more resources than you do."

Roberts said the city council is "progressive" and wants to see the Valley Center grow, "which is not something you always see in small communities."

A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Roberts has lived in Kansas since 2002.

He and his wife have a 15-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son.