The search for the City of Elizabethton’s top administrative position is nearing a conclusion.

Elizabethton Mayor Curt Alexander recently confirmed to the Elizabethton Star that the search for city manager is down to four candidates. Two candidates have been interviewed this week and the remaining candidates are expected to be interviewed next week.

Information received from City Hall indicates that the final four candidates are:

• Jon Hartman – Elizabethton City Manager Pro Tem

• Daniel Estes – Assistant Town Administrator of Collierville

• Emily Wood – Church Hill City Recorder

• Glenn Rosenoff – Erwin City Recorder

Elizabethton’s city manager works in conjunction with the seven-member City Council – which features a mayor, mayor pro tem and five other elected officials. This position is to oversee all administrative affairs and services provided by the government. The city manager is a non-voting member during Council meetings but does provide input and recommendations for elected officials.

According to the job posting, which ended April 4, the manager is responsible for 250 full-time employees and a $15 million general fund budget. The required experience for the job is at least five years’ in public administration, preferably as city manager, assistant manager or equivalent – the posting stated. A bachelor’s degree was required to apply with a master’s being preferred. The salary for the position is contingent on the experience of candidate.

The position was vacated following the April 6 retirement of Jerome Kitchens. After serving at the helm in the city for five years, Kitchens announced his retirement to spend more time with his family and thanked city employees for their work during his time as manager.

Kitchens was named interim city manager in 2013 following the retirement of manager Fred Edens and was appointed to the position a short time later following the interview process.

Following Kitchens’ retirement, City Council voted during their March meeting to appoint Hartman, the city’s Planning and Development director, as the interim manager. Hartman is also working with Council during 2018-19 fiscal year budget workshops alongside Finance Director and City Clerk Deborah Kessler.

Alexander indicated the hope is to have the approval of a new city manager to be placed on the May City Council meeting agenda. The new manager must have a majority vote from officials before taking over the position.