Fort Smith deputy city administrator finalist for Branson
Posted on Friday, May 9, 2008
FORT SMITH — As one of two finalists for a job in Branson, deputy city administrator Dean Kruithof stands to become the fourth Fort Smith leader to step down this year.
But some city officials say change is to be expected.
“Politics is about adjusting,” said Rick Parrish, who sits on the city Board of Directors.
Kruithof, 51, is one of two finalists for the Branson city administrator job and said he will meet with aldermen and the mayor there next week. He has worked in Fort Smith for nine of his 27 years in public administration.
Branson’s other finalist is Dan Galloway, city manager of Stillwater, Okla.
A news release from Branson said officials hope to have a new city boss in place by early summer.
“If they offer it, I’m leaning toward taking the job,” Kruithof said.
A Kruithof departure likely would be one of the more peaceful ones in recent Fort Smith history.
Political problems surfaced late in 2007 and earlier this year when controversy involving Police Chief Kevin Lindsey ended with city Director Velvet Barrows resigning and City Administrator Randy Reed retiring in February.
City Director Cole Goodman also stepped down amid the Lindsey flap but withdrew his resignation days later and remains on the Board of Directors.
Coincidentally, city Director Ken Pyle also resigned at the end of February, not because of Lindsey but to become executive director of the Fort Smith Housing Authority.
Emotions ran high, especially among police officers, and city directors were the focus of much criticism over the Lindsey issue.
Lindsey, who became police chief in January 2007, was criticized for his handling of an internal investigation of highranking officials in the department, including his predecessor as interim chief, Maj. Jeff Barrows, who is married to Velvet Barrows. Lindsey fired him, suspended Capt. Steve Howard, who later retired, and fired Sgt. Jeff Morgan.
Reed placed Lindsey on administrative leave, and a large number of officers rose up to defend him. About 300 people showed up for a city directors meeting at which Reed was to recommend that directors fire Lindsey. However, Reed quit before the meeting, Velvet Barrows didn’t show up, Goodman didn’t vote and the remaining directors could not muster enough votes to fire Lindsey.
Some city directors said this week that they don’t believe this chapter in the city’s history will affect Fort Smith’s ability to land a top-notch city administrator.
That the city has problems could draw someone who thrives on challenges, city Director Gary Campbell said. He expects candidates to question city officials about the Lindsey dispute so that they understand the situation up front.
Directors are not looking for someone who is laid back and not interested in change, he said.
“We want someone who wants to take the city to the next level,” Campbell said. “We are looking for someone on his way up, not someone looking for a place to retire.” City Director Bill Maddox said he doesn’t believe Fort Smith has suffered irreparable harm.
“I have full faith and confidence this city can go places with the right people in place,” he said.
What could keep away the best candidates, he said, is not putting enough money on the table. Fort Smith must be competitive in pay with like-sized cities to draw the best recruits.
Fort Smith is offering $ 125, 000 to $ 150, 000 a year, which city Human Resources Director Richard Jones said earlier this year is comparable to that of similarsized cities in the region.
Jones said Reed’s initial pay was $ 128, 500 a year when he took the office in June 2006 and was $ 131, 070. 16 when he retired. The Mercer Group Inc. is conducting the search for the city.
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