Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent
Sharon Eveland, of Georgia, and Kevin Opple, of Washington, are the finalists in Clintonville’s search for a city administrator.
The city is searching for a successor to Chuck Kell, who was hired as interim city administrator in 2014 following the resignation of Lisa Kotter. After the city’s first attempt to recruit a full-time administrator failed to draw much interest, Kell’s agreement was extended until the end of June.
This time, the search attracted 17 candidates. After the field was reduced to seven, the city personnel committee selected the final two candidates. Eveland and Opple were invited to tour the city on Wednesday and then to attend a meet and greet at the Community Center.
The personnel committee is scheduled to make its recommendation to the Common Council on Monday.
Eveland served eight years in the U.S. Navy, working in naval intelligence. After her service, she took some time off and then went back to school at Southern University in Georgia to earn a master’s degree in municipal government. She and her husband have three children. Her husband has relatives in Madison, and they have been looking to locate in Wisconsin.
Eveland said Clintonville is similar to Richmond Hill, where she grew up in Georgia. She is impressed with the amount of industry in Clintonville. She said she has been successful in writing grants, and an internship included working with a fire department, and dealing with hiring issues and city contracts.
Opple, who grew up in Michigan, served 20 years in the Navy. He then went back to school at the University of Washington to study public policy in government and earned a master’s degree. His wife is from Switzerland, and they have a 5-year-old daughter. They have wanted to relocate to the Midwest.
Opple said he is impressed with the industry in Clintonville and was surprised there were still small restaurants that are not owned by a chain. He said he sees a spirit in the city that needs direction. The infrastructure needs work, he said.
Council members said they want to give the new administrator as much time as possible to work with Kell before he departs.
“It is the ideal situation to give the new person as much understanding as possible,” Alderman Lance Bagstad said. “It is very beneficial.”
Kell noted the new administrator will need to deal with several major projects, including the new wastewater plant and the new North Main Street.
The salary range for the job is $75,000 to $85,000.