The Great Bend City Council made it official Monday night. Kendal Francis was appointed as City Administrator for the City of Great Bend and is anticipated to begin working on July 30.
Francis was chosen from 24 applicants for the job that replaces Howard Partington. Partington was in attendance Monday night as the Council voted 8-0 to appoint Francis, the Beloit native.
Partington got caught up in the community backlash of the suspension of former Great Bend Police Chief Cliff Couch last summer. Couch claimed acts of misconduct from Partington and former Mayor Mike Allison. The City Administration claimed Couch was suspended because of not following an order from Partington, among other reasons. Couch was reinstated but eventually resigned from the position noting a “target on his back.” Partington stated he was bullied, harassed, and threatened and that the “harassing attacks have been the most difficult challenge I have faced in my life.” This led to Partington retiring early in August 2017.
Francis thanked the Council for the appointment and says he is ready to go to work.
Kendal Francis Audio
George Kolb was hired in October of 2017 as Interim City Administrator until a full-time replacement could be found. His six-month contract ended in March, but was renewed until the position was filled.
Kolb said his final day would be August 17 unless Francis was comfortable with handling the duties earlier.
George Kolb Audio
Francis spent nearly 20 years in Beloit with the city’s water/wastewater department. He has served as City Administrator for Lakin and most recently as City Administrator for Coffeyville from August 2015 to March 2018.
Francis resigned from the Coffeyville City Manager position in March after settling terms with the Coffeyville City Commission. Francis cited potential displeasure from the Commission as the reason for the resignation.
Slavin Management Consultants conducted the job search and narrowed the applicant pool to three finalists that underwent formal interviews with the Council and meet-and-greets with the public at the end of June. The other two finalists were Larry Collins and Scott Hildebrand.
Francis said Slavin notified him about the offer on Tuesday, July 10.
Other City Council news from the meeting on July 16…
– The Council voted in favor of rezoning real estate southwest of Great Bend from multi-family residential to light manufacturing – service commercial. Scott Reddig made the request to turn 10 acres on the west side of Patton Road between the USD 428 District Education Center and Jayhawk Oilfield Supply into a nursing home facility.
– Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes addressed a concern from a baseball coach last weekend. The coach stated that Great Bend could not handle large baseball tournaments at the Great Bend Sports Complex because there were not enough hotel rooms. Hayes says all the hotel rooms were booked because of a large wedding in town the same weekend.
– The Council voted to authorize the Mayor to sign a Letter of Support to the Kansas Department of Commerce on behalf of Rosewood Services. Rosewood is asking for tax credits to develop the old E&E Glass facility at 1117 Williams into their new Rosewood Creation Center.