PORT ANGELES — Kent Myers of Hot Springs, Ark., will be sworn in as the new city manager at the Port Angeles City Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, if the City Council approves his contract.
His selection ends a three-month search, which netted more than 80 applicants, for former City Manager Mark Madsen’s replacement.
Myers, 56, who said he signed the contract with the city of Port Angeles on Wednesday, will take over from interim City Manager Jerry Osterman on Jan. 12.
Mayor Gary Braun declined to say how much Myers will be paid because the council has yet to approve the contract, and Myers would not discuss it until that information is released by the city.
Braun said that Myers’ salary, and other terms of his contract, will be released to the public on Tuesday.
Waldron & Co. of Seattle, which the city hired for $25,000 to find applicants for the position, had said that the Port Angeles city manager could be paid between $130,000 to $155,000, along with benefits.
Myers said Wednesday that he and his wife, Dianne, “were very impressed with the community, particularly with the quality of life and future potential the community has to grow and progress,” when they visited Port Angeles last week.
He added he has no intention of retiring any time soon, and plans to serve as city manager for a “number of a years.”
“Retirement is not even a word in my vocabulary,” said Myers, who has about 27 years of city manager experience at three cities.
In November, he announced his resignation, effective Dec. 31, as city manager of Hot Springs. He took that job in 1994.
Discussed on Tuesday
The City Council interviewed four finalists for the position, including Myers, on Friday, and met in executive session on Tuesday to discuss a selection and contract.
“He is the right person at right time,” said City Council member Cherie Kidd.
“It is a great new chapter for the city, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Madsen resigned on Sept. 1. In July, he cited “untenable, hostile working conditions” as the reason for his departure. He was paid $148,000 annually and received $37,000 in severance pay.
Osterman, who is paid $12,000 a month, was selected by the City Council in September for the interim position.
“We were so lucky to have him as city manager, even for a short time,” said City Council member Don Perry.
“I hope he doesn’t make himself a stranger.”
Osterman, 63, said he intends to re-enter retirement and looks forward to “picking up my fishing pole and pumping up the tires in my motorcycle.”
Improve trust
Myers said one of his goals is to improve the city residents’ trust in city government.
One of the ways he said he accomplished that in Hot Springs was through “city manager coffees,” where he sat at a coffee shop throughout the day, and invited residents to sit with him and have a chat.
“I’m very open to the public,” he said. “I like to get out of the office quite a bit.”
That is one characteristic that Perry said made Myers stand above the other three finalists.
“I like the way he related to people,” he said. “He took the time and effort.”
New challenges
Myers said he resigned from city manager of Hot Springs because he wants to find new challenges.
“A year ago, I told the [Hot Springs] City Council that I had basically done everything I could accomplish here,” he said.
Within the last year, Myers has applied for other city manager positions, including those in Bend, Ore. and Springfield, Miss.
He said his search for a new job was “very selective.”
He finds similarities between Port Angeles and Hot Springs, even though Hot Springs is larger, with a population of about 40,000.
Both are tourism hot spots and have national parks nearby.
Hot Springs National Park is located on the city’s northern boundary.
In terms of economic development, Myers said he likes to encourage a diversity of industry.
He said Port Angeles needs to continue to expand tourism, industrial development, medical care and its efforts in attracting retirees.
Myers said his most proud accomplishment in Hot Springs is staff development.
“We have the very best city staff with a real high emphasis on customer service,” he said.
While city manager of Hot Springs, Myers said the city constructed the largest convention center in Arkansas, attracted a large water park, built several large shopping centers, and attracted a call center for companies, and a large passport printing company.
Also, the city converted the Hot Springs High School, where former President Bill Clinton graduated in 1964, into residential lofts, where Myers and his wife now live.
Urge for service
Myers said an opportunity to make a difference attracted him to city government.
“I really have an urge for public service,” he said. “Public service has always been a real exciting focus for me.”
Myers said his wife are looking for a new home in Port Angeles. They were attracted to Port Angeles by its quality of life and outdoor recreation.
Myers also served as city manager in Casa Grande, Ariz., from 1989 to 1994 and in Converse, Texas from 1981 to 1989.
He has a master’s degree in public administration from Texas Christian University, and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Texas at Arlington.
The city of Hot Springs’ Web site, lists Myers as being a credentialed manager by the International City Managers Association.
He and his wife have two sons, Lance, 21, and Kyle, 25.
Myers grew up in Fort Worth, Texas.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
