Star-Journbal Editor
Ousted city administrator Steve Garrett said he already has begun searching for a new job by tapping into a wide network of colleagues and contacts.
The ideal next job for him, he added, would be the right kind of fit, "like Hillsboro was six years ago."
Reached at his home Saturday, Garrett said that in serving six years in Hillsboro he had beaten the odds. The average stay for an administrator, he said, was two to two and a half years.
Of the unanimous vote for dismissal at a special meeting of the Hillsboro City Council Jan. 24, Garrett said, "I can't say it was unforeseen. It really comes with the territory. It's one of those things. City managers have a finite amount of time in any one place, and you don't know how long it is."
Although he declined to discuss particulars, Garrett was philosophical about his sudden dismissal.
"I'm handling this instance like I've tried to handle everything," he said. "The future is out there and that's what we've got to worry about.
"There's not a lot we can do about the past, so let's not spend too much time on it. That's something that's served me pretty well so far and hopefully that will continue."
Garrett, 42, has been married to Angel for 17 years. They have three boys, ages 16, 10, and nine.
"It's hardest on the kids," Garrett said. "The longest amount of their lives has been here, so their roots are deeper than mine, but they're holding together pretty good."
Garrett said his wife would fulfill her annual contract as a Head Start teacher in Marion, and that she and the boys would finish the school year in Hillsboro, even if he takes another job before then. He added that he had explained to his children that his new job was finding another job.
Asked to name achievements on which he planned to build his resume, Garrett said the Hillsboro Family Aquatics Center and the water treatment plant would top the list.
"There's not another water treatment plant like that, and that happened because of a combination of city council, engineering input, and staff input," he said.
Garrett added that he had served in Hillsboro at a time when all of the players, from elected officials, city employees, and the voting public, seemed ready and willing to get things done.
"I don't think it would have happened in any other place without that confluence of people getting together."
While council member Matt Hiebert voted for his dismissal, he said Garrett should be recognized for the projects that were accomplished while he was city administrator.
"I think he helped the city out, there's no question about that," Hiebert said, adding, "Everybody has their detractors. Some people don't care for me. I'm not going to make everybody happy all the time."
Both Garrett and his wife have roots in eastern Oklahoma, but would prefer to stay in Kansas, if possible.
"There are some things about Kansas that are much different than Oklahoma," Garrett said. "They take education much more seriously here. I really like the schools up in this neck of the woods. But again, we're looking for that nice fit, and I don't know where that's going to be."
Garret said he preferred not to say his good-byes in the newspaper.
"I'll be saying what I need to say to people who have befriended us and supported us, we'll be having those conversations over the next few weeks. We have a lot of good-byes to say. We'll do that individually."
