Chadron could have a new city manager by the end of the night, or at least be working out contract details with one.
The city council meets at 4:00 in special session to review the 4 finalists who came to Chadron for interviews earlier this week and see if they can agree on one for a contract offer.
The finalists are Bradley Coughenour (COKEN-hour) of Yakima, Washington, Michael DeMers of Austin, Texas, Scott Meszaros of Seward, Alaska, and John Sutherland of Rapid City.
Multiple council members made it clear during discussions at last week’s regular council meeting that there was a 2-2 split on unspecified candidates during the selection of the semifinalists and finalists.
Councilman Miles Bannan hasn’t been a part of the selection process because he was one of the applicants for the city manager’s job and won’t participate as a council member in tonight’s discussion and possible action.
Although city councils generally prefer unanimous or near-unanimous votes, even close votes can result in what turn out to be popular choices.
The selection of Greg Yanker in 2017 came on a 3-2 vote and he was widely praised by all the council members when he left for the private sector last December.
Today’s meeting is streamed on the city website at chadron-nebraska.com. It will also be on Zoom at us02/web.zoom.us/j/88976845295 and on Great Plains Cable channel 19.