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East Ridge council delays city manager selection after interviews with two finalists
Summary
After two finalists interviewed Jan. 12, the East Ridge City Council postponed a hiring decision to its Jan. 22 regular meeting to gather department-head feedback and public input. Finalists were Kevin Owens, a Fayetteville administrator with 26 years of municipal experience, and Michael Powers, a long-serving California and Alaska municipal manager.
East Ridge City Council on Jan. 12 interviewed two finalists for the city manager post and, after extended questioning and public comment, agreed by consensus to defer a hiring decision to the regular council meeting on Jan. 22 for additional staff and resident input.
Kevin Owens, who currently serves as city administrator in Fayetteville, Tennessee, told the council he has about 26 years in municipal government, including two decades in Birmingham, Ala., and four years leading Fayetteville. "I'm more like a coach," Owens said when asked about his leadership style, describing a practice of empowering department heads while setting vision and enforcing standards. Owens also described experience managing budgets across multiple jurisdictions and leading…
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