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City Administrator
City of Fairbury, Nebraska
THE COMMUNITY
The City of Fairbury, Nebraska, has a population of just over 3,500 and is the county seat of Jefferson County. The City is located at the crossroads of highways 15 and 136, ten miles from the Nebraska/Kansas border. Fairbury provides easy access to the major university towns of Lincoln, Nebraska, home to the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Manhattan, Kansas, home of the Kansas State University Wildcats. The City is approximately two hours away from metropolitan Omaha and Omaha’s International Airport, Eppley Airfield and three hours away from metropolitan Kansas City.
Fairbury is a family-friendly community, offering an abundance of small-town charm. Residents enjoy a high quality of life and exceptional recreation opportunities in scenic settings, with convenient access to multiple regional and state parks.
Home to a strong manufacturing and agricultural base, major employers in the area include Endicott Brick, Livingston Enterprises, Prairie View Industries, and Westin Family Foods.
CITY GOVERNANCE AND ORGANIZATION
The City of Fairbury is a full-service City, offering: water, wastewater, sanitation, and electric enterprise operations, as well as library, museum, street/alley, and park departments. Law enforcement is provided by the Jefferson County Sherriff’s Department and fire protection is provided by the Rural Fire District.
The City operates under the mayor-council form of governments. The governing body has nine members, including the Mayor. Members are elected from four wards, with two members elected from each ward, and the Mayor is elected at-large. All members serve four-year terms.
The Mayor appoints a City Administrator who acts as the Chief Administrative Officer of the organization, The City Administrator works with the Mayor, City Council, and staff to develop and implement City policies and manages the daily operations of the City.
The City has an annual budget in excess of $30 million and approximately 35 full-time equivalents.
OPPORTUNITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The new City Administrator will find Fairbury a welcoming community with a stable governing body and a well-versed staff. The City Administrator will play a key role in addressing the City’s short-and long-term needs and provide strategic planning that utilizes available resources efficiently and effectively and creates opportunities for sustainable growth.
Infrastructure Improvements
Over the past five years, the City has taken on nearly $8.5 million worth of capital projects. A brand-new aquatic facility opened in 2019 and a significant road reconstruction project on one of the City’s prime arterial roads was completed.
Several additional multi-million dollar capital improvement projects are scheduled to occur in the near future. The new City Administrator will be tasked with overseeing the implementation of these planned projects.
- Immediate Improvements
- Water: $7+ million in water infrastructure improvements are proposed to occur in 2022-2023. This improvement is to source new water and is a joint partnership with the City of Fairbury and Little Blue NRD operating under the entity of the Little Blue Valley Water Systems (LBVWS). The City Administrator will work with Little Blue NRD, Miller & Associates (an engineering service) and USDA to complete this project with the approval from Council.
- Wastewater Treatment Plant: $5 million in sewer plant upgrades will occur in 2022-2023. The City Administrator will work with Olsson’s (an engineering service) and the Water/Wastewater Superintendent to see the upgrade completed.
Housing & Redevelopment
Within the last few years, two new subdivisions have been constructed. The City is part of a rural workforce housing cooperative and was recently awarded nearly $250,000 for housing development. The selected candidate will need to work with this cooperative, contractors, and the Fairbury Community Redevelopment authority to utilize these funds for continued residential development.
Other Projects
The FY 2022-2023 budget includes resources to replace numerous vehicles, funds for continued quality of life enhancements, and outstanding grant applications. The new Administrator will need to work with the City Council, staff, and the various granting agencies to ensure these projects are fulfilled.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
The Mayor and City Council seeks candidates with strong interpersonal skills who can communicate well with citizens, businesses, the City Council, and city staff. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in public administration or a related field, a master’s degree is preferred. Work experience may be substituted for education. The successful candidate must also be able to competently create and manage budgets, oversee and develop personnel, and foster excellent relationships.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The City of Fairbury offers a competitive salary, dependent on experience and qualifications. A generous benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance and paid vacation and sick leave is provided. Employees may also participate in a matching 6% retirement plan after completing one year of service.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please apply either online at www.fairburyne.org or by submitting a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references to:
Erin Reimer, City Clerk
P.O. Box 554
Fairbury, NE 68352
Please clearly mark submittals “City Administrator Search.”
This position is open until filled.
The City of Fairbury is an equal opportunity Employer
RESOURCES:
City of Fairbury – www.fairburyne.org
Jefferson County, NE – www.co.jefferson.ne.us
Fairbury Chamber of Commerce – www.fairburychamber.org
Fairbury Public Schools – www.fairburyjeffs.org
Additional Community Information – www.fairbury.com
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $75,000.00 – $100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Fairbury, NE 68352: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: One location
