Help wanted

By Chuck Kajer

Help wanted: City administrator for growing city of about 7,000 people. Must be able to wear many hats, dealing with economic development, zoning and growth issues, environmental laws, human resources' issues, city budgets. Ability to multitask is a must, and ability to please diverse groups of people with sometimes opposing points of view is considered a plus. Must have a thick skin and be able to sit through a sometimes endless series of meetings without losing temper while person after person questions your decisions and recommendations.

While the above help wanted ad is fictional, many of its points are not far off the mark. This weekend city officials will be interviewing four candidates for the job of city administrator in New Prague. The position was created in the 1970s, and Jerry Bohnsack has held that job since its inception. With Bohnsack's pending retirement, the city will seek a new administrator to take care of the myriad of details needed to operate a city of 7,000.

New Prague has been fortunate to have had an administrator that has been able to work with all the different groups and individuals who have had a stake in the many decisions the city has had to make and calmly guide the city through its tremendous growth.

The job of city administrator is a challenging one. The new administrator will need to have a diverse set of skills and a wealth of knowledge. The job is often thankless, and the new administrator will no doubt have some big shoes to fill. Here's hoping the council finds the right person for the job.