Ark Valley News - Change in top post not unusual

Change in top post not unusual
Last Updated: January 17, 2019

If it seems like turnover at the top of the City of Valley Center's employment ladder has been frequent, it's because it has been.

The average tenure of the city's top leader during the past 20 years, has been just over five years. At least one study reveals that the national average is under seven.

By the nature of the job, city managers and administrators don't stay in one place for very long, thanks to the hazards of the occupation and the fact that to move up, city managers usually have to move elsewhere.

Valley Center's recent history has been rocky, but average.

The city has had three city administrators since 2001.

I.D. Creech resigned in 2008 after serving for seven years.

Joel Pile resigned in 2015 after nearly six years.

Scott Hildebrand was fired last week after just over two years.

While Creech and Pile served an average tenure, Hildebrand's time in office brought the overall average down.

You may recall that George Kolb, a former manager for the City of Wichita, was interim city administrator for Valley Center twice since 2008, including a one-year sting from June 2015 through June 2016.

So, what does this mean for Valley Center moving forward?

It shows that the city has its challenges and strengths. The top job can attract career-minded individuals with energy and passion.

It also can attract people with human shortcomings.

As a search for Hildebrand's replacement embarks, we hope decision makers look beyond the resumes and the coverletters and discover the heart and character of its next city administrator.

What Valley Center needs is a communicator with a love for people and a passion for doing things the right way.

We wouldn't mind seeing Valley Center's tenure average go up with the next one.

— The Ark Valley News