Great Bend city officials will announce the three finalists for the city administrator position at 10 a.m. Monday, Community Coordinator Christina Hayes said. The candidates are allowed by contract to back out before names are publicly released if they decide to do so. 

On Wednesday, the finalists will meeting with city personnel, receive internal tours and sit for official job interviews. These meetings are not open to the public. 

But, Thursday morning, there will be a meet-and-greet for Great Bend Chamber members and local business representatives. Then, starting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Great Bend Events Center, 3111 10th St, the public is invited to visit with the candidates. 

“This is an important decision,” said Chamber President Jan Peters. She encouraged residents to take the opportunity to visit with the finalists.

This matter has been on the council’s plate for quite awhile now.

In May, the City Council met in executive sessions to narrow the field of applicants to three.

In February, the council approved contracting with headhunters Slavin Management Consultants to handle the search. The city is paying the Atlanta, Ga.-based firm $15,505 plus expenses including consultant travel, office costs and advertising with those additional costs not to exceed $7,752 (travel expenses for finalist visits to Great Bend were not included).

Since last September, George Kolb of Wichita has served as interim city administrator. Until Kolb was appointed by the council, City Attorney Bob Suelter had been acting as the short-term interim administrator. 

The appointment was made necessary by the Aug. 16 retirement of City Administrator Howard Partington who had been with the city for 36 years. Partington cited stress caused by the controversy between now resigned Police Chief Clifton Couch and the city as the reason for his departure.