Lakeland city officials choose Shane Horn as new city manager

Lakeland city officials selected Shane Horn as its new city manager.

Now, Horn needs to decide if the position — one which oversees the city’s daily affairs — is one he wants to accept. Doing so would mean moving from Michigan, where he previously worked as a city administrator.

The Lakeland Board of Commissioners held a special meeting Monday evening in which they voted unanimously for the city attorney to begin negotiations with Horn.

Wyatt Bunker, mayor of Lakeland, said Horn’s experience as city administrator of Adrian, Michigan stood out to the commissioners. Adrian has a population of more than 20,000, whereas Lakeland had a population of around 12,000 at the 2010 census.

“He has walked the path that I believe Lakeland will grow to,” Bunker said. “That unique experience, I think, perfectly suits him for this position.”

Horn was city administrator of Adrian for nearly five years before resigning in May. He was director of utilities for the city from 2007 to 2014 and water plant superintendent from 1997 to 2007. He resigned from his role as city administrator because he and the Adrian commission were not on the same page, reported the Daily Telegram.

Horn said he was attracted to Lakeland because of the quality of life in the area, including the parks, residential neighborhoods, the amphitheater and the lake.

“I’m interested in a community that offers those quality of life amenities that pull residents together so we can all hang out and socialize,” Horn said. “To be able to potentially play a small role in how Lakeland develops going forward is very exciting for me.”

Both Horn and his wife are originally from Michigan, meaning this would be a significant move for them. Horn plans to revisit Lakeland with his wife so she can get a feel for the city and consider employment opportunities in the area. They will also begin contract negotiations with the City of Lakeland.

“Obviously, making this kind of move 10 hours away, there’s a lot of thought that goes into it,” Horn said. “We just thought this was an opportunity we could take advantage of based on this season of life that we’re currently in.”

Salaries for managers in cities of Lakeland’s size typically range between $80-100,000, Bunker said. The current city manager makes $93,000.

If Horn accepts the position and negotiates an agreement with the city, he will replace Jim Atkinson, who announced his resignation as Lakeland city manager in June.

Atkinson worked for the city for 13 years and became city manager in 2015. He will be joining Lakeland-based A2H as a planner.