The Winchester Board of Commissioners can dive into the hiring process for a new city manager with a bit more security now.
The board approved a measure at last night’s regular meeting that named J.R. Wilhite as interim city manager. Wilhite has agreed to man the post for six months, though the commission hopes to have a permanent city manager in place within three months.
“It’s made me a feel a lot better to be able to work with him,” out-going city manager Ken Kerns said. “He’ll take over Jan. 1 until such time as they hire someone. It makes that transition better.”
Kerns plans to retire at the end of the year.
Wilhite has lived in Winchester for 20 years. He retired from state government in October, where he worked with the Economic Development Cabinet.
“I was the city manager in 1992, when he was here from ’92 to ’94 as the industrial authority director,” Mayor Ed Burtner said. “We worked together during that period. After he left that job, he was still involved in economic development activities. A lot of projects we worked on as a community, he worked on at the state level.
“We’re very pleased he was available and able to help us out.”
Wilhite said he is not interested in the position long term.
“I’ll keep that office functioning and work with the city commission until a permanent city manager is on board after a good and thorough recruitment process,” Wilhite said. “I’m just going to keep the chair warm until they find a new city manager.”
Burtner said that could take some time.
“We will narrow it down to four or five candidates and interview that group,” he said.
After spending some time with potential candidates, a field trip could even be in order.
“We’ve had city commissioners go to the town where they are now and just sort of talk to people,” Burtner said. “‘Tell me about this guy. What kind of manager is he? What kind of public servant is he?’ That’s happened a couple of times. It’s going to be a process. Us getting comfortable with him being the ideal candidate. Also, the person has to be comfortable with our community.”
The commission also heard a presentation by Winchester Municipal Utilities General Manager Mike Flynn on a proposed change to the large water usage rate for 2013. The commission approved the first reading of an ordinance that amends the original proposed rate increase of $4.33 per hundred cubic feet of water to $3.55. WMU requested the lower rate in an effort to keep Winchester’s rates competitive with surrounding cities in hopes of retaining local industry and recruiting new industry.
In other business, the board also:
— Approved a measure promoting Byron Schroedel to battalion chief.
— Approved an effort by Winchester First to replace the guard rails on the high side of Main Street.
— Approved an order reappointing Matthew Goeing to a three-year term on the Winchester Historic Preservation Commission.
— Approved an order reappointing Susie Shearer to a three-year term on the Winchester Historic Preservation Commission.
— Approved an order designating Commissioner Shannon Cox as mayor pro tem.
— Approved an order authorizing the upgrade of three street lights on Clay Street.
— Approved an order awarding the bid for catering the Christmas breakfast to Cantuckee Diner.
— Approved an order appointing Ron Jackson to fill the unexpired three-year term of Ben Huber on the Winchester Historic Preservation Commission.
— Approved a measure that moves the Jan. 1 meeting of the board to Jan. 8 and the Jan. 15 meeting to Jan. 22.
Contact Casey Castle at ccastle@winchestersun.com.
