Daniel Wilson named as city's new service director
MACEDONIA – A civil servant from the Columbus area will move north to direct the city’s service department starting April 25.
Daniel R. Wilson of West Jefferson, which is just west of Columbus, will be the new service director, replacing Leon Karas, who resigned in November 2021 after serving in the position for only four months.
Karas said he wanted to spend more time with his family. He had succeeded longtime Service Director John Hnottavange.
Wilson’s starting salary will be $105,000. He will carry over 15 years, 9 months of service credit/seniority for the purpose of vacation leave, plus 915.65 hours of sick leave time.
Mayor Nick Molnar said the city administration interviewed 11 candidates for the job, and human resources director Annette Smith added Wilson comes with “stellar references.”
“He has a lot of experience, and we believe he is a good fit for the city,” said Molnar. “He climbed through the ranks from a service worker to where he’s at now. He’s two classes shy of a master’s degree and has a lot of talent.”
Wilson said he plans to eventually move his family to the area. “It’s an honor and privilege to get the chance to serve the city. I am humbled and excited to get started,” he said.
Since May 2020, Wilson has been operations manager in the department of public service and engineering for the city of Gahanna, a suburb on the northeast side of Columbus.
He oversees all major operations, as well as worked closely with the human resources department to handle all personnel matters.
Prior to that he was a crew leader for the cities of Hilliard and Dublin, both northwest suburbs of Columbus, where he guided several maintenance technicians, and worked from 2006 to 2018 as a full-time maintenance technician for the latter.
He is working on his master’s degree in public administration through Arkansas State University, with a major in public management, and earned a bachelor of arts degree from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla., with a major in interdisciplinary studies.
He has taken courses in emotional intelligence, leadership and management through John Glenn College of Public Affairs. He holds several certifications and licenses, and has several professional affiliations.
LAND PURCHASE
Council sent to second reading an ordinance to purchase 3.85 acres at Valley View Road and Park Avenue from J&J Valley Development LLC for $625,000.
The vacant parcel once was the site of a school, which was demolished a few years ago.
Molnar said a portion of the nearly $1.5 million the city received a few months ago from the sale of the former Bedford Anodizing property will be used to buy the property. He noted closing costs should amount to not more than $5,000.
The mayor explained the property was appraised at $675,000, but he was able to negotiate the lower price. He called the deal “a good investment” and said the city “is looking to the future.”
Molnar said past proposals for the property included building a trucking terminal or a senior citizens care facility, but city officials “didn’t think those were the best fits.”
He said by owning the land, the city can control what winds up there. “We’d like to see things people are asking for, such as mom and pop businesses, not corporate stores,” he said, adding the future growth committee in 2015 favored redeveloping the site.
“It’s in our best interest to start moving on this [redeveloping the site],” said Molnar. “This parcel is a crown jewel for the city and acquiring it is just the first step of many.”
Councilwoman Jan Tulley said if the site’s purchase is OK’d, a lot of talks are ahead before officials decide what to do with it. “We need to first get input from the public and then find investors,” she said.
Council president Jessica Brandt said if the city can’t find an investor to develop the site, it always can sell it.
Council set an information session for April 28 at 7:15 p.m. at City Hall to inform the public about the possible acquisition. That will be prior to Council’s next meeting since the regularly scheduled April 14 session has been canceled.
In one final item on April 5, Council directed the mayor to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation’s annual road salt bidding process, with a commitment to purchase 4,000 tons for the 2022-23 winter season.
The cost per ton will be determined when ODOT opens bids this summer.
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Daniel Wilson named as city's new service director
