County commission to interview six candidates for county administrator July 30 and 31

Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter
·2 min read

BRANCH COUNTY — After a closed session Thursday, county commissioners selected six candidates from 38 for in-person interviews on July 30 and 31 to replace retiring administrator Bud Norman.

Commissioners received resumes from all the candidates, so they were able to narrow the field to six in a closed 37-minute session.

Branch County
Branch County

Those selected are:

  • Adam Kline, former Oakland Township manager

  • Jessica Miller, assistant St. Joseph County administrator

  • John Morrell, administrative manager, Lakeland Correctional Facility

  • Robert Reinshuttle, assistant Manatee County administrator, Florida

  • Jeffrey Thornton, Caledonia village manager

  • Frank Walsh, Meridian Township manager

Commissioners will interview three from noon to 3 p.m. on July 30 and the other three from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 31.

Consultant Chet Janik suggested that each appear for 50 minutes with a list of 15 sample questions, which he would provide to the commissioners to cover the same selected topics.

Janik said the commissioners could then decide which one to three to bring back for a final discussion-style interview.

The commissioners decided the first interviews could be on Zoom if the candidate wished.

Commissioner Tom Matthew, who voted against the list, asked if commissioners could ask candidates questions before the public interviews.

Janik warned commissioners the process needed to be transparent and public. He said lawsuits occurred in past cases where there was nonpublic contact.

Janik told commissioners to refrain from taking calls from any candidate.

“If any candidate has issues, they will address them with you in the interview,” the consultant stated.

Commissioner Randall Hazelbaker said if these candidates were unsatisfactory after the interviews, the commission could return to the original list.

Commissioner Tim Stoll stated earlier that he hoped the new hire could join the county sometime in October, with an overlap with Norman, to become familiar with the job.

Under new state law, because this is an election year, the initial contract can only extend to Dec. 31.

The contract can specify the newly elected commission will review/extend the agreement in January.  

The Aug. 6 primary will determine if the incumbents Hazelbaker, Jon Houtz, and Alan McClelland will return to join Stoll, who has no opposition.

Houtz has suggested that the board wait to make a final decision until after the primary so that a majority of the 2025 elected commission would make the decision.

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Norman announced his retirement in January after serving as administrator/controller for over 18 years.

— Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com    

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Branch County commission interview six candidates administrator