Commission votes 5-0 to hire Strategic Government Resources for city manager search

The Mulberry City Commission voted unanimously to retain Strategic Government Resources to conduct the city manager search after the interim manager, Ms. Ayala, said she will step down from the city manager role and is willing to remain in the position during a search.

Commissioners debated proposals from two firms and cited SGR’s online reputation and flexibility. One commissioner said SGR typically recommends a roughly 12-week recruitment timeline but can shorten that if needed; commissioners stressed they did not want to rush the hire. The commission moved, seconded and then held a roll-call vote in which Commissioners Ayers, McDonald, Maguire, Smith and Boswell each voted “Yes.”

City legal staff advised that hiring an individual consultant for recruitment is likely exempt from the city’s procurement code and could be approved that evening. The attorney said staff would coordinate the engagement and notify the firm so next steps — including a workshop to set candidate criteria and an interview schedule with the firm — could be scheduled.

Commissioners also discussed interim options: some suggested reaching out to grant writers or past city managers for short-term support, and staff noted possible interim compensation expectations (one figure cited during discussion was about $10,000 per month for temporary external coverage). Several commissioners emphasized surveying staff on leadership preferences and ensuring the search firm helps the commission build consensus on job criteria.

The commission’s action was limited to authorizing retention of SGR; no final employment offer for a permanent manager was made at the meeting. The next procedural steps discussed were scheduling a workshop with legal present to finalize the search firm scope, timeline and candidate criteria.