Star-Journbal Editor
While the City of Hillsboro is still looking for a "range rider" to step in, temporarily, for its ousted city administrator, Mayor Delores Dalke says the city's department heads are coming to the rescue.
"The most amazing and rewarding thing that's happened is the way the department heads are coming through and doing what they need to do," Dalke said.
After former city administrator Steve Garrett's dismissal Jan. 24, the mayor met with the city's six department heads and city clerk to establish a set of temporary ground rules.
She asked them to submit vouchers to her before making any purchases. She also asked them to continue to manage their departments, and to keep her updated with reports.
"The department heads are coming through," Dalke said. "They're giving me vouchers on everything that they're spending, and they're really trying to hold the line on those expenses until we figure out where we are.
"What we're discovering," she added, "is that the city administrator has a very big job."
Range Rider is the name given to retired city administrators who are paid to work in interim capacities in cities going through the transition between administrators.
Hillsboro will need a Range Rider for three to four months, Dalke said, to give the city council time to conduct a search for a new administrator.
In response to Dalke's call for help, the League of Kansas Munici-
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palities sent Mark Tomb, an intergovernmental relations associate, to speak Jan. 30 at a special Hillsboro City Council meeting.
Tomb explained the transition process and spelled out the roles that elected officials can expect to play, but he did not bring a Range Rider in his briefcase.
"They gave us no promises that we'd have [a Range Rider] by next week, even though I wish they would have," Dalke said. "They did give us some names of who might be available, and that was good news."
Dalke said a Ranger Rider was needed to help manage ongoing improvement projects; two of which are approaching critical phases.
"We're getting very, very close to being ready to advertise for bids on the sewer lagoon system," Dalke said. "And we're still waiting for formal approval from KDOT for the extra money that we need for the South Adams Street.
"Those kind of bigger decisions that need to be looked at, and we're hoping that a Range Rider can help with that. With these projects, they would know what needs to be taken care of; the details and the legalities that we aren't aware of."
While a Range Rider is needed for his or her expertise, Dalke said she's confident that the city's department heads can handle the day-to-day.
"I am so proud of those people," the mayor said. "This group is just amazing the way they are coming through, helping me; explaining things. I never, ever could have imagined that they would take over so well.
"Everybody is stepping up and I'm really, really proud of them."
