The city of Homer now has more applicants for city manager than stars on the American flag as four more people have applied for city manager. As of Tuesday, 53 people have applied for the position, with the latest application received on Sunday. The city advertises the position on its website, and applicants can apply online. The position is open until filled.
The City Manager Selection Committee next meets at 4 p.m. Jan. 14 in the conference room, City Hall.
In response to a public records request from citizen activist Ken Castner, former city City Manager Walt Wrede made publicly available the resumes and applications of city manager applicants. That information can be viewed during regular business hours at the clerk’s office.
Of the 53 applicants, 10 are from Anchorage and five are from other Alaska communities. The rest are mostly from the Lower 48. One applicant currently lives in Japan. One applicant is from Homer and two applicants used to live here and now live elsewhere in Alaska. The minimum educational requirement is a bachelor’s degree. Many of the applicants have master’s degrees and some have doctoral degrees.
Marvin Yoder is now serving as Homer’s interim city manager under a six-month contract. Yoder, a 22-year veteran of Alaska municipal government, started Jan. 1.
Under city code, city managers must be appointed by the Homer City Council, and a resolution appointing Yoder is on the council agenda at its next meeting at 6 p.m. Monday in the Cowles Council Chambers, City Hall. A resolution designating signatories of city accounts also is on the agenda.
The City Manager Selection Committee next meets at 4 p.m. Jan. 14 in the conference room, City Hall.
On the committee’s agenda is setting dates for the interview process and procedures for narrowing down the list of candidates, said selection committee chairperson and Homer City Council member Francie Roberts. Roberts said earlier that the committee has not yet made its initial cut of applicants.
She said that at its next meeting the committee will provide more clarity in the selection process. Serving with Roberts are council members Bryan Zak and Gus Van Dyke and Mayor Beth Wythe.
Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.
