West Siloam Springs to hire town manager

WEST SILOAM SPRINGS, Okla. — West Siloam Springs will have a full-time town manager in the near future.

Four of the five board of trustee members voted in favor of creating the position of town manager at a special meeting on Thursday. They also approved a job description for the new position. Board member Kathy Osbourn did not sit with the council on Thursday night and abstained from voting because she is one of the applicants for the position.

A total of nine candidates applied for the position and seven chose to attend the meeting on Thursday. The four board members, mayor and city attorney interviewed the seven candidates individually during a three-hour executive session. Osbourn was interviewed, but sat outside for the other candidates’ interviews. The council tabled a motion to choose one of the candidates to hire, and scheduled a special

meeting for July 13 to discuss the issue.

West Siloam Springs Mayor Elaine Carr said that a special meeting was held so the board could spend more time focusing on the interview process and discussion.

Carr explained that West Siloam Springs is growing and has a lot of potential to grow even more. The town needs a day-to-day manager to oversee the town’s expanding needs and to encourage future

growth, she said. Osbourn said that she and others have been volunteering to perform many of the duties of a town manager, but she said the responsibilities are becoming so great that a full-time employee is needed to fulfill them.

The two-page job description, approved by the board, states the town manager will work full time and report directly to the town board of trustees. The lengthy list of responsibilities includes managing governmental affairs of the numerous departments, boards, authorities and commissions; reporting the town’s financial

condition to the board of trustees each month; and general supervision of department heads.

Kris Kirk, certified public accountant for the city, told the board the town can afford the salary range that has been discussed. Fifty percent of the salary will come from the water department, 25 percent will come from the street department and 25 percent will come from the general fund, he said.

City attorney Jot Hartley said the manager’s salary has not been determined and will be negotiable, based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications.