Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason is the finalist for a job in Florence, Arizona. The Florence Town Council has an executive session scheduled about Gleason's candidacy Friday morning.
Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe says he has asked Gleason to give him time to consult the council and counter any offer from Florence.
“I think he has been fantastic for the city, and I really look forward to continue working with him because I think we have a lot more to do,” said Mwilambwe.
Mwilambwe said Gleason has done great work in Bloomington.
"Bloomington is in a great position. We have a lot of momentum and I think that's something we would want to maintain. Getting somebody else new would stall or delay a little bit of that momentum," said Mwilambwe.
Mwilambwe said Gleason helped get Bloomington through COVID in a stronger position than a lot of other communities and has a solid record on economic development.
"Things like the CII East building, for example, a building that had been an eyesore, but is now looking really good," said Mwilambwe. But then we also have other things coming up like the downtown streetscape. So, he has ushered through quite a few things for us to be proud of."
A source with knowledge of the situation said Gleason has also received an unsolicited but generous offer to return to the top job in Decatur, Illinois, the position he held before coming to Bloomington. Decatur is looking for a manager.
Florence has about half the population of Bloomington. It is on the edge of the greater Phoenix/Mesa metro area and about 70 miles from Tucson. It is also rapidly growing. The Florence Blade-Tribune reported in 2023 a consultant projected the town will more than double over the next decade.
Gleason has family members in that area. Two sources said Gleason has been looking for positions in that part of the country. It is also not uncommon for high level municipal officials who have vested pensions to seek employment in other states.
Gleason has been city manager in Bloomington for six years. Before that he led staff in Decatur and Washington, Illinois. And he had a lengthy career in law enforcement before entering municipal administration.
Gleason has not responded to a request for comment.
