Good Things to Happen To Nice Guys-Jeff Pederson

[Value Pack]

Friday, September 07, 2007:

Offer extended to Pederson for city administrator job.

An offer has been made to Jeffrey Pederson of Dodge City, Kan., to be the next Grand Island city administrator, Mayor Margaret Hornady announced today.

Pederson was one of three finalists interviewed by the mayor and city council since the resignation of Gary Greer in February.

The resolution to appoint Pederson will be presented to the city council at its regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday. If approved, Pederson would start work during the week of Sept. 17 with a salary of $105,923.

Pederson recently served as city manager at Dodge City. Prior to that, he spent nearly 13 years as the city manager in Vermillion, S.D. He has worked in various areas of municipal government since 1980.

“We have taken a long time to make our selection for the next city administrator to ensure that the person was a good fit for Grand Island," Hornady said. "I look forward to Mr. Pederson joining city staff, where he will continue to help lead Grand Island in a positive direction. I am delighted to have him join our fine community.”

posted by Editor at 2:18 PM

[Value Pack]

More details on this.

City to hire Jeff Pederson

By Tracy Overstreet
tracy.overstreet@theindependent.com

Grand Island Mayor Margaret Hornady wants Jeff Pederson as the next city administrator, but she said the city has struggled a bit to overcome legal issues with his contract.
"I sure think this is somebody I can work with, and the city council liked him, too," Hornady said of Pederson.

The 50-year-old Pederson was city manager of Dodge City, Kan., for two years until June, when he negotiated an early leave from his contract there.

"Basically, he resigned and we were at a position . . . it was just a difference in a style of management and we wanted to go a different direction," Dodge City Mayor Kent Smoll told The Independent.

Smoll said Pederson made some key management changes in a city-owned car racing track, was instrumental in expanding the city soccer and youth football fields and helped bring consensus to a "rather rough (city) commission."

But with four sales-tax projects in the works, including a new special events center, Smoll said Pederson wasn't moving fast enough for the city.

"We were really ready to take on the events center, along with we just voted in casino gaming and we weren't sure we'd be able to move fast enough on those projects with Jeff because he's very thorough," Smoll said.

Smoll said Hornady called him personally to discuss Pederson.

"I want to assure you, his departure had nothing to do with unethical behavior. He's very pleasant," Smoll said.

Pederson said he had already been considering other jobs when Dodge City officials suggested his talents might be better utilized elsewhere.

"We mutually decided I should be somewhere else," Pederson said.

But there's already been some controversy in making that somewhere else Grand Island.

Hornady wants Pederson hired Sept. 11 so he can start the job the week of Sept. 17.

She said there have been "legal issues" in contract wording because the boiler plate administrator contract was deemed to be unconstitutional under Nebraska law.

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Very common point here is that whatever lead to Jeff leaving, Kent Smoll was at the front of it.

I like the part:

"rather rough (city) commission."

[Made in the USA]

Everything that I heard about the guy was negative. And I know alot of people that worked directly with him. I say good riddance, and let GI have him. I don't know how Stroebel will work out, but at least he is a local and should have an inside track on most of the things involved. IN addition, he won't be hopping into Dodge to use it as a stepping stone to his next job!

[Value Pack]

I had direct dealings with Jeff Pederson and I found him to be careful, deliberate and not one to shoot from the hip. He was a careful listener.

That is exactly how I would also describe Ken Strobel. The good news is that we have not gone downhill.

[lurker]

Originally Posted by Value Pack

I had direct dealings with Jeff Pederson and I found him to be careful, deliberate and not one to shoot from the hip. He was a careful listener.

That is exactly how I would also describe Ken Strobel. The good news is that we have not gone downhill.

That's surprising.

[Value Pack]

City council to consider hiring administrator tonight


On the agenda
By Tracy Overstreet
tracy.overstreet@theindependent.com

City Council President Bob Meyer thinks the mayor has a strong city administrator finalist in Jeff Pederson.

Mayor Margaret Hornady has recommended the city hire Pederson, the former city administrator of Dodge City, Kan. The city council is to authorize the hire during a 7 p.m. council meeting Tuesday.

If approved, Pederson would start the job the week of Sept. 17.

"I think he was very good," Meyer said of Pederson after an Aug. 21 interview by the council.

During that interview, Meyer said, he completed the same type of evaluation form that he used during interviews that led to the hiring of former city administrator Gary Greer.

"Mr. Greer and Mr. Pederson graded almost identical," Meyer said. "I was pleased with Mr. Pederson."

Although Greer voluntarily left the city in February, he was paid a controversial $60,000 severance package. Meyer said Grand Island taxpayers shouldn't fear the same thing happening with Pederson. It was just a contract wording fluke with Greer, Meyer said.

Meyer was impressed with Pederson's strong convictions. When asked about accomplishments, Pederson cited things accomplished as a team and also commented on failed initiatives that resulted in a learning experience, Meyer said.

Pederson's answers to questions were also consistent and on target the answers didn't stray and wander as they did with other finalists for the city administrator job, Meyer said.

"He has good vision and ideas to take the city forward," Meyer said of Pederson.

Meyer believes the city needs to focus on infrastructure and extending services such as water and sewer to new subdivisions. He thinks Pederson can help with that effort despite the limited resources the city has.

An employment letter sent to Pederson by Hornady offers a starting salary of $105,923, which will increase to $109,630 on Oct. 1 when the city's updated salary ordinance goes into effect.

[Value Pack]

Pederson hired as new as city administrator

By Tracy Overstreet
tracy.overstreet@theindependent.com

Grand Island has a new city administrator.
He's Jeff Pederson, the former city administrator from Dodge City, Kan.

The Grand Island City Council voted 10-0 Tuesday night to hire Pederson at a salary of nearly $110,000 a year, plus a $500 a month car allowance.

The salary will be $105,923 when Pederson starts next Wednesday by attending a three-day meeting of the League of Nebraska Municipalities in Gering.

The annual salary jumps to $109,630 on Oct. 1 when the new fiscal year and salary ranges go into effect.

"He's straightforward and easy to talk to and knowledgeable," said Mayor Margaret Hornady, who recommended the city hire Pederson.

She also liked his sense of humor a trait she believes is useful in city government.

Pederson, 50, had been city administrator in Dodge City, Kan. for two years before negotiating a separation agreement with the city in July.

Pederson said he had already started thinking about jobs elsewhere. Dodge City Mayor Kent Smoll said Pederson simply wasn't moving fast enough for the vast number of new projects the city had underway.

Pederson also has experience in South Dakota and Iowa. He served as city manager in Eagle Grove, Iowa from 1985-89 and in Vermillion, S.D. from 1989 to 2002.

Hornady said his lack of Nebraska experience is why she asked him to attend the League of Nebraska Municipalities meeting next week. The league represents the majority of Nebraska cities, towns and villages. It also lobbies on behalf of municipalities before the Nebraska Legislature.

Hornady said Pederson's first day at Grand Island City Hall will be Sept. 24.

"He's a man of unquestioned integrity and honesty and will work well with the staff, and council members and the community," she said.

Absent from Pederson's employment with the city is a written contract.

Hornady said the lack of a contract is on purpose after former city administrator Gary Greer left the city in February, taking with him a $61,000 severance payment even though he hadn't been fired.

"After the brouhaha with Gary's (contract) over my dead body would we be on the hook for $61,000 after someone's been offered employment," Hornady said.

Greer took a city manager job in Farmer's Branch, Texas, but a carefully worded clause in his Grand Island contract led to his severance payment even though he hadn't been fired here.

Hornady said the Greer case led her to carefully research contracts and wording. She learned that contracts and severance payments are not constitutional in Nebraska in most cases of government employment.

"Severance is illegal," Hornady explained because it binds a future council into a payment. "We can't call it a contract anymore."

For that reason, the city avoided a contract and instead extended a two-page letter of employment to Pederson.

"I appreciate it's volatile and very political and you can lose your job very quickly," Hornady said of being a city administrator. "They do need some kind of a safety net."

The employment letter offers a five-month severance to Pederson should he be fired, but he must commit to assisting the city on future legal means should they arise regarding issues Pederson dealt with as city administrator. That commitment shows a value to the current council at the time, said league of Nebraska Municipalities attorney Gary Krumland.

Pederson said last week that he looks forward to working in Grand Island, which is larger than Dodge City and a career advancement for him.

He was not available for comment Tuesday night after numerous calls placed to his home in Dodge City.