The Wayland City Council Monday night to offer a contract for new city manager to Joshua Eggleston, administrator for the City of Durand, Wisc.
Eggleston, one of three finalists interviewed for the job Saturday morning and afternoon, is being offered a salary of $82,500. If he agrees to terms, he will begin duties on Feb. 5 and succeed Tim McLean, who resigned in late August and Larry Nielsen has served as interim since then.
Though Eggleston lives and works in Wisconsin, his roots have been in the Grand Rapids area. He is a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School and of King’s College in in Canada with a master’s degree from Michigan State University. He also has served as an administrator for two small towns in Ohio before he took the job in Durand in 2013.
“He’s waiting to hear from us,” a hopeful Nielsen told the council.
Eggleston was a finalist two years ago, but withdrew his candidacy and McLean then took the position.
The other two finalists were Jeff Thornton, former city manager at Negaunee in the Upper Peninsula and former administrator at Alpena County, and Michael “Mitch” Mitchell, the first-ever village manager at Colon.
Eggleston flew into Grand Rapi
ds Friday and took in Wayland’s Art Hop celebration Friday night before interviewing at 8 a.m. Saturday.
• Received the audit report from Dan Veldhuizen of the accounting firm of Siegfried & Crandall.
He said, “The financial condition of the city is quite healthy,” ut he noted a few minor “material weaknesses in internal controls,” but are being remedied.
Nielsen pointed out that the city has a fund balance of about $1 million, which is 45 percent of the total budget.
“Most cities and villages shoot for (a fund balance of) 15 to 20%… Taxpayers like to know that the money they entrust to local government is being managed properly.”
• Agreed unanimosuly to sell the old 1995 Case front loader to Michael Reurink of Reurink Investments for $20,000, which was the advertised bid price. The city’s new loader is expected to arrive Wednesday, according to Streets Superintendent Coleman Lutz.
• Agreed to an informal suggestion from Councilwoman Jennifer Antel to dispense with the procedure of moving to put issues on the floor for discussion, insisting the fact the item is on the agenda means it will be discussed.
• Noted a request from Councilwoman Tracy Bivins to have better lighting provided at the huge empty parking lot that formerly was home to Cars2Go near the corner of Reno Drive and West Superior Street.
• Was told that The Calvary Church bought for $100 the lot for the former Clark gasoline station at the corner of Sycamore and South Main streets.
Nielsen warned the council, “So it may no longer be on the tax rolls.”