We wish Avon Park City Manager Sarah Adelt well as she moves to Frostproof to became the city clerk there.
Certainly she served during difficult times here, when a decline in tax revenue ham strung both her and the city council as they dealt with the budget.
While the economy is improving in some areas, cities are still at a disadvantage and will likely remain so for the next year.
This is why we hope the city council will take its time to make its selection of a new city manager.
We have faith in the city's staff, especially its department heads, and feel the council has the time for thoughtfulness.
The new city manger will have to be experienced, and have a strong background in budget building. An understanding of the grant process, as well as knowledge of grant providing organizations, both public and private, will be of great help as there may still be opportunities for federal stimulus money.
Of course, as a news gathering institution, we hope the council chooses someone with a thorough understanding of Government in the Sunshine laws and a dedication to being truly open.
While the vision of Avon Park's future should naturally come from the council, representing the people as it does, a city manager must also have the same vision. Only by working together can the city increase its momentum and accomplish its goals.
Even more important are the skills to turn abstract ideas into tangible reality.
While the council charts the course, it will be the city manager who steers the ship of state.
That means the individual chosen will need to be able to say no, as well as yes.
He or she needs to have the courage to make difficult decisions, and the empathy to connect with citizens and staff.
The selection process comes in three stages -- collecting resumes, creating a short list and making the final choice.
We're told to expect many applications. Council member Joe Wright said Monday afternoon that Hardee County had recently advertised three positions and received more than 200 applications. The draw back was that only 38 of them were qualified.
However, with many cities having to make the same kind of cuts in their budgets that Avon Park had to make, there is a wealth of qualified individuals from whom to choose.
This is why, given the difficulty of the position and the need for experience and knowledge, it is essential the council not rush.
In fact, the council seems prepared to do a thorough job. With two members prepared to step down at the end of the year -- neither George Hall nor Wright will be returning -- this council has already decided to defer the final decision until the new council is seated in 2010.
In the meantime Maria Sutherland, the city's project manager, will act as interim city manager between Nov. 24 and whenever a new city manager is chosen, perhaps in late January or early February. Sutherland made it clear she is not interested in becoming city manager on a permanent basis.
We think that is wise. What Avon Park needs now is someone who can take the helm with a fresh eye and energetic leadership.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - www.newssun.com/edt-1118-editorial