St. Joseph council approves emergency employment agreement for incoming city manager

The St. Joseph City Council voted unanimously to approve an emergency ordinance authorizing an employment agreement for the city’s next manager.

The ordinance read by the clerk authorized execution of an employment agreement with “Mike Schumacher” to serve as city manager; the council voted 7–0 to approve the emergency ordinance. During the city manager’s report later in the meeting, the interim manager welcomed the incoming manager named as “Mike Shoemaker” and said his first day will be Jan. 21.

The meeting record includes two different spellings of the incoming manager’s name: the ordinance as read uses the name Mike Schumacher, while the manager’s report uses the spelling Mike Shoemaker. Both spellings appear in the official record of this meeting. The council treated the ordinance as an emergency measure and approved it without amendment.

Interim city management thanked staff for their response to a recent historic snowstorm. “I’d just like to reiterate what Council Member Schultz had stated earlier…and show extra appreciation and gratitude to all our city staff that worked extra hard these past 3 days,” the interim manager said, and later added, “I’d like to welcome Mike, his first day with the city will be January 21.”

Outcome and next steps: The emergency ordinance passed 7–0. The ordinance authorizes the city manager employment agreement; the transcript does not include the agreement’s financial terms or other contract details and makes no reference to a formal swearing-in date beyond the announced start date.