The Edmond Sun

Local News

Discussion

July 23, 2008

City manager finalist for Mo. job

Mark Schlachtenhaufen

EDMOND — Edmond City Manager Larry Stevens is one of three finalists vying to fill the same position with the City of Springfield, Mo., The Edmond Sun has learned.

Claudia Deakins, spokeswoman for the City of Edmond, said Stevens was in a meeting Wednesday afternoon and unavailable for comment. He is going out of town for a couple of days on a previously planned family vacation.

In a news release announcing the finalists, Stevens said he decided to pursue the position in Springfield because Missouri is his home state. Stevens also cited the size of Springfield.

“Like Edmond, Springfield is an award-winning city,” Stevens said. “It is about twice the size of Edmond.”

According to www.city-data.com, in 2006, Springfield had a population of 150,797. Edmond had a population of 76,644.

Currently, Stevens earns $143,238 a year, Deakins said. When Stevens became city manager in 2002, he was earning $102,000 a year.

Louise Whall, spokeswoman for the City of Springfield, said Bob Cumley, who retired as city manager in June, had a $152,000 annual salary. Cumley had held that post for two years.

Whall said the finalists would be in Springfield Aug. 3-5 for a variety of search-related events. They include a public welcome reception and a series of closed-door sessions with the Springfield City Council.

An announcement of the new Springfield city manager is expected during the week of Aug. 11, Whall said. Springfield officials wanted the process to be open and the finalists were told their candidacies would be made public, Whall said.

Wayne Page, Ward 1 Edmond City Council member, said Stevens told him about the development Wednesday. Page said he thinks Stevens has been an effective city manager and would be a sought-after candidate however this situation turns out.

“We’ll just have to wait and see what happens,” Page said.

If Stevens were to get the Springfield job, the Edmond City Council would call an executive session to discuss replacing him, which likely would include hiring a firm to conduct a candidate search, Page said.

According to the news release posted on the City of Springfield Web site, the three finalists were selected from a group of eight presented by the search firm Arcus Public during a meeting Monday evening that lasted more than four hours.

Besides Stevens, the finalists for the Springfield city manager post are Kent Myers, city manager in Hot Springs, Ark., and Greg Burris, vice president for administration and information services and chief information officer at Missouri State University.

Text Only
Local News
  • $6.8B budget crosses final hurdle

    House members found enough votes late Thursday afternoon to approve the state’s $6.8 billion budget for next year by a vote of 52-42. This came after an earlier vote failed by four votes in the House Thursday morning.

    May 25, 2012

  • Santa Fe principal resigns

    Edmond Santa Fe High School principal Earl Kirkpatrick resigned Thursday to explore possibilities in the field of ministry. His last day is June 30.

    May 25, 2012

  • devin derrick 2012.jpg Hollywood dreams do come true: Edmondite develops film, music career

    It’s all about being in the right place at the right time.
    At least that is what Edmond resident and 1990 Edmond High School graduate Devin Derrick will tell you about his rise to fame in the music and movie businesses.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • ASK A LAWYER: Trusts provide options for difficult heirs

    Q: We have a grown daughter who has a gambling problem. We want to provide for her in our will, but also want to protect her share from being wasted after we die. How can we do this?
    A: Your situation is not unusual. Most of us know at least one person who has difficulty handling money for one reason or another.

    May 25, 2012

  • 5-26 Pets

    This is a list of animals that have been found and are at the Edmond Animal Shelter, at Interstate 35 and Covell in the Cross Timbers Municipal Complex. Call the shelter at 216-7615 for more information.

    May 25, 2012

  • 5-26 Police and Fire

    Information in this column is gathered from city fire incident logs and police incident reports.

    May 25, 2012

  • Make-A-Wish Oklahoma hosts Lexus raffle

    Make-A-Wish Oklahoma will once again partner with Lexus of Tulsa and Eskridge Lexus of Oklahoma City to raffle off a new Lexus, raising funds to support the organization’s efforts to grant the heartfelt wishes of children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions in Oklahoma.

    May 25, 2012

  • Edmond youth are encouraged to make a difference

    The Edmond Youth Council programs are opportunities for students 15-18 years of age to learn about municipal government and potentially impact future city policies.

    May 25, 2012

  • Hiebert graduates from Field Artillery training

    Army Pfc. Cody A. Hiebert has graduated from the Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Sill, Lawton.

    May 25, 2012

  • arcadia lake 3.jpg Police: Comply with lake rules during holiday period

    Summer vacation, hot days and a holiday weekend spell heavier traffic on Arcadia Lake, and police want to remind guests about rules and what happens if you break them.
    May 23 was the last day of school for Edmond Public Schools and the long Memorial Day holiday period has come.

    May 25, 2012 6 Photos