The City of Escanaba is no longer looking for a city manager.
In a surprise move at Monday night’s city council organizational meeting, an agenda item was added to discuss the resignation of Manager Patrick Jordan, and whether to offer him a contract to stay on. Jordan had announced that he was taking a job in Florida, but he accepted the new contract offer after the city council voted, 4-1, in favor of the deal.
“It was a tough decision back and forth,” Jordan told RRN News. “Florida is attractive. We have friends and family down there. But I just feel that right now, this is where I need to be. There’s a lot going on right now, and we’re going in the right direction. There’s good things happening, and I want to be here to see it through.”
“He has the knowledge of where we are today, and where we want to go tomorrow,” Escanaba Mayor MarcTall told RRN News. “He’s been at the very start of the hotel project, and he’s been deep into the dark store arguments. I’m looking forward to working with him, and with the our two new council people.”
The new contract includes a pay increase from the current $100,000 a year to $125,000. Escanaba had received 35 applications for the city manager position, but chose the status quo.
“I’ve read all 35 applications that we have to date, and when I go through them, only two have actual municipal management experience,” councilman Dr. Ralph Blasier told RRN News. “There are a lot of people with degrees in public administration, but only two actually have real experience. We have one here who we have experience with ourselves for two years. We know his capabilities, and they’re really good.”
Tyler Dubord, who along with Karen Moore were sworn in at the beginning of the meeting, voted no. Dubord argued that Jordan should be free to re-apply for the position, but the other applicants should be given a chance. Moore voted yes, saying that Jordan was one of the reasons she chose to run for the city council in the first place.
Tall, who was appointed to his fifth term as mayor earlier in the meeting, also voted yes, as did Blasier. Councilwoman Peggy O’Connell was pleased, saying several times in her remarks that she did not see this coming, and that it was a total surprise. O’Connell also voted yes, saying that Jordan has done a good job, and it would cost the city more to hire and train a new member.”
