ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The City of Escanaba has begun the process of finding its next manager.
In December, current manager Jim McNeil announced that he would be “moving on” from the position this spring. On Tuesday, the City Council interviewed two candidates interested in taking his place.
The first candidate was Zeke Jackson, the outgoing administrator for the Village of Waterford, Wisconsin. The second candidate was Dickinson County native Justin Carlson, the former town administrator of Freedom, Wisconsin.
Council members inquired about the candidates’ qualifications and experience, as well as how they would address certain issues, like the need for middle-income housing. Both candidates discussed ways they helped their municipalities navigate various situations.
McNeil says the ideal candidate will be able to keep the City’s ongoing projects moving forward.
“There’s a lot going on in the city right now,” said McNeil. “We’ve made a lot of progress on the government end of things and financially, but we certainly have a flywheel of projects, if you will, both public and private. They’re hoping that somebody can take these efforts, see them through, and also generate some new projects.”
More candidate interviews could be scheduled in the coming weeks, but the City’s next steps will be discussed in detail at the next City Council meeting. Council members hope to hire a new manager before McNeil’s departure, set for mid-May, to allow for a smooth transition and training period.
