Picking next city manager no easy task for Wayland

ACHTUNG: The following is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor.

The Wayland City Council is saddled with a daunting task Monday afternoon and evening in its attempt to select this community’s next city manager.

I was surprised Friday to learn of the three special meetings scheduled to interview three finalists and even make a final selection Monday evening. Though former City Manager Josh Eggleston was gone all of August and this month, it appeared to me that anything more than just the interviews would be in great haste.

There is no question the three finalists demonstrate a wealth of experience and skills. But there is more to this than meets the eye.

The first candidate, Jared Ottenwess, was arrested in 2015 and charged with domestic violence and assaulting police officers in Traverse City. He apparently went on “a bender” and was acting out of control after a call to settle a domestic dispute.

Since then, Mr. Ottenwess has had only a brief time as a public official, spending most of his work life in the property management business.

There certainly is a possibility that he has gone on the wagon since and righted his ship. We have a mixed reaction toward those who have suffered such a catastrophic bout with alcohol. Allegan County voters forgave County Clerk Robert Genetski for his transgressions in 2012, but turned away State Rep. Terry Geiger for driving while impaired in 2004 while running against Patty Birkholz for State Senate. Birkholz buried Geiger in the election with her relentless reminders of his trespass.

Now it’s up to the council to decide if forgiveness and redemption are due Mr. Ottenwess.

Another candidate, Patrick Jordan, presents a different kind of problem. He currently is administrator at Ionia County and not long ago received a pay raise to just short of $128,000 a year. First, how can little old Wayland offer more than that without breaking the bank? And second, why would sometime with an apparently good job with good pay be applying to little old Wayland?

The third candidate, Erik Wilson, has a long history of public service, currently with Texas Township. Wayland just lost Eggleston to administering Zeeland Township, how can it keep a public servant in the same capacity?

There are some observers who are tired of young bucks getting these jobs and then using them as stepping stones. But just how seasoned do we want our next city manager to be, and at what cost?