Genoans may seek new town manager

It looks like Genoans will be seeking new management at the end of the year.

Town board members voted Tuesday to finish out the first year of an agreement with Douglas County for management services and then start looking for a manager.

Genoa and the county entered into an agreement for management services in January after the last town manager resigned just after Candy Dance last year.

The resignation set off a controversy over how the town was run. The management contract with the county was seen as a solution.

Not long after the contract went into effect, interim town manager Lisa Granahan, who is assistant to county manager Dan Holler, found herself dealing with a series of crises, including frozen pipes in the town church and a failed septic tank that served both the church and the park.

Holler said the county estimated the contract would require about 2,000 hours of staff time over the year, but that so far his staff has expended 1,700 hours.

In addition to Granahan, the county contracted with Sheryl Gonzales to provide events coordination specifically dealing with Candy Dance.

Holler estimated that three-quarters of Granahan's time was taken up with Genoa issues.

Town board members praised the county for dealing with many issues in an efficient manner.

"I think it has been very successful," board member Bill Donohoe said. "The amount of stuff that's been done in seven months has been tremendous. I'd like to see us stay on the contract as long as possible."

Board member Greg Pace said Granahan has been a big part of the reason for the contract's success.

"We've been very fortunate in the person we've had and we've financially benefited from the contract. It would be very difficult to find someone as good for the amount of money we're spending."

Board member Dave Whitgob agreed that the county has done well for the town.

"The interlocal agreement fixed a problem and demonstrated what this looks like when it works," he said. "Before we had an unacceptable situation, now we have an acceptable situation. Now we should be looking for a way to go from good to great."

Holler told the board that the county would have to cut back on its support for the town under the present agreement.

He pointed out that county staff is being reduced to balance the budget and having Granahan in Genoa is having an effect on his office.

However, he assured Genoans that should the search for a manager fall through, the county wouldn't abandon them.

"We want the town to be successful," Holler said. "We want to focus on how we make the town successful and keep it that way."

With only 250 residents within town boundaries, resident Bill Brooks questioned the town's ability to support a town manager and staff without a change in the tax base.

Three-quarter's of the town's annual revenue comes from September's Candy Dance. Brooks pointed out that two bad Candy Dances could result in the town's insolvency.

"Then I'm going to come to the county looking for my services," Brooks said.

Because all three previous managers had also taken over Candy Dance, all three said it was difficult for them to focus on town business unrelated to the annual fundraiser.

-- Kurt Hildebrand can be reached at khildebrand@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 215.