Assistant city manager appointed Sturgis interim leader until replacement hired
STURGIS — When Sturgis City Manager Michael Hughes steps down Jan. 20 to pursue a new career outside government, assistant city manager Andrew Kuk will step into the role as interim.
Kuk, who has been with the city for approximately 15 years, will serve in that interim capacity until he or another person is officially hired as a permanent city manager.
At Monday's Sturgis City Commission meeting, Dec. 12, Kuk told the commission and mayor he intends to apply for the city manager position. His decision prompted discussion by the commissioners on what the next step should be. Last month, the city commission interviewed two executive firms that specialize in recruiting, interviewing and presenting municipal employee candidates for consideration.
In a 5-4 vote, the commission narrowly approved changing direction and working instead with the Michigan Municipal League and the International City/County Management Association. By not using Amy Cell Talent or Walsh Municipal Services, the city is looking to save about $18,000.
The position will be advertised by the commission with the MML and ICMA, as well as through the city's website. Further direction and additional steps, such as an interim city manager contract, are set to be discussed at the commission's Dec. 19 meeting.
The split vote came after debate on whether pursuing other candidates through a professional consultant or through general advertising was the next appropriate step, with the city leading the interview process. Those voting for the MML and ICMA route were Mayor Jeff Mullins and commissioners Marvin Smith, Brandon Kinsey and Robert Hile. Commissioners Frank Perez, Travis Klinger, Linda Harrington and Richard Bir voted in support of using a professional consulting firm.
Bir said he favors an unbiased search, as did Perez.
Perez said that, while Kuk is highly respected, if the city is to seek additional candidates out of fairness and equal opportunity, the city needs to use a professional firm.
"The city manager is essentially the CEO of Sturgis," Perez said. "This is a key position. We have a fiduciary responsibility to conduct a professional hiring process. We're not the professionals."
Perez said the city has expenditures of $64.3 million, a general fund of $12.1 million, four union contracts, 113 full-time employees and 58 part-time employees.
With other aspects of city talent acquisitions going through executive firms, Perez said that "I was very disappointed" by Monday's vote.
Mullins said he believes the work can be done by the city, and in doing so, exercises fiscal responsibility. The hiring of a search firm at last month's meeting was paused so that Kuk could decide if he wished to seek the city manager's position, when the possibility was raised. Kuk did not make a determination at the November meeting, and did not participate in the discussion.
"We determined that if Andrew were to candidate as an incumbent assistant, it would likely thin out applicants," Mullins said. "And, Frank Walsh shared that sentiment."
Mullins said that, with Kuk being interested in the city manager's position, a search firm is "not a good way of spending money. We determined we can do this process ourselves and be fiscally responsible."
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Assistant city manager appointed Sturgis interim leader until replacement hired
