Lake Odessa council delays manager decision, authorizes background checks for both finalists

Village President Karen Banks presided over a special Village of Lake Odessa Council meeting on Jan. 6, 2026, at which trustees conducted second interviews of two village manager finalists and delayed a hiring decision until the council's regular meeting on Jan. 21.

The council interviewed Patti Caudill from 5:01 p.m. to 5:36 p.m. and Mark Borden from 5:48 p.m. to 6:33 p.m., according to the meeting minutes. Public commenter Beth Barrone thanked the council for its efforts in selecting a new village manager and spoke favorably toward Caudill; later in the public-comment period Carrie Johnson also expressed support for Caudill. Staff member Jesse Trout informed trustees about Category B funding, grants and consultant resources during public comment.

Trustee Martha Yoder moved, Trustee Roy Halfmann supported, to appoint Gregg Guetschow as recording secretary for the meeting; the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. Later, Trustee Bob Green moved, Trustee Mike Brighton supported, to "authorize the village manager to contract for the completion of background investigations of both candidates"; that motion also passed 7-0. The council then reached consensus to postpone further discussion and any formal hiring action to the regular council meeting on Jan. 21 so trustees could meet individually with department heads and receive their input.

The meeting record does not specify the scope, vendor, or timeline for the authorized background investigations. The council did not take a hiring vote at the Jan. 6 special meeting; the process will resume at the Jan. 21 regular meeting.