Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason detailed plans of a staff reorganization to the city council on Monday night.
He told aldermen he is replacing the assistant city manager position with a deputy city manager to work directly with all department heads.
“I would describe it as a chief of staff or a position that truly is a bridge between myself and the department directors,” Gleason said.
Previously, the assistant city manager oversaw the community development, facilities, parks, public works and water departments.
“This position truly is a No. 2 in this organization of 650 full-time employees,” Gleason told the council. “Whereas in the past we had an assistant city manager position that oversaw (five) different departments, did not have that direct contact with the remaining (departments) we have.”
Gleason said he and a committee of department heads have been interviewing five finalists from among more than 30 applicants. He said there was one internal applicant, but they did not meet his requirement of having experience as a city manager or assistant city manager.
Gleason sought to eliminate the assistant city manager position after Steve Rasmussen resigned from the post in October.
Gleason said the job was advertised as a salary in the $140,000 to $160,000 range. Rasmussen earned $146,000 per year.
Gleason said he hopes to have someone hired to start by the end of January.
Gleason also introduced the city’s interim city clerk, Leslie Yocum, who has served as the city’s contract administrator. Current City Clerk Cherry Lawson is leaving to take the same position in Marana, Ariz.
Tax Levy
The city council unanimously adopted $25.15 million in tax levies for 2018. The city’s portion is $20.28 million and $4.88 million goes for the Bloomington Public Library. Both are approximate 1 percent increases over 2017.
Bloomington City Finance Director Scott Rathbun estimated the owner of a $165,000 home would pay $1.46 more for the city portion of their property tax bill.
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