CLARKSVILLE — For the first time since the 1970s, Clarksville selected a town manager to lead the town during a time of growth and redevelopment. Kevin Baity is expected to start work by the end of the month.
After two days of touring the community, meeting with town officials and extensive interviews, Baity, 50, was the choice of the Clarksville Town Manager Search Committee and Town Council. He most recently was the city manager in Carbondale, Ill., and he comes with 20 years of experience in local government.
“We were very impressed with all the finalists, but feel that Kevin is the best fit for Clarksville as the town transitions to a council-manager form of government,” Town Council President Paul Fetter said in a news release. “His background in planning, economic development and local government management will serve our community well, especially as we move forward with the South End Redevelopment initiative.”
Without a mayor, the council currently operates as the town’s executive and legislative body. As town manager, Baity will work under the direction of the council and be responsible for day-to-day operations, according to a job profile approved by the council in March. The town wanted someone to “take the town to the next level and help it realize its vision for continued sustainable growth and development.” The approved salary range for the position was $80,000 to $120,000.
On Wednesday, five candidates, including Baity, visited the town and interviewed with department heads. All candidates were interviewed by the council and committee Thursday. Town manager search committee member Jim Kenney said it was a good opportunity to make sure the person hired would fit in with the other departments.
“Well after we got through the interviews, that just gave us the last piece of the puzzle, and it was an important piece because that allowed us to make sure from a personality standpoint we were getting the right fit for our department heads and a right fit for our town council, who he will be working with directly,” Kenney said.
Kenney said interviews and deliberation lasted from about 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fetter said he could not comment on how the vote to hire Baity was split, or whether it was unanimous, per the rules of executive session. He said all of the candidates were qualified, but Baity seemed like the best fit.
Baity said it’s a unique experience to be the town’s first manager in decades. He said Clarksville looks poised and ready for a new form of government.
“From the information I’ve gotten form several people in the community, it’s a new form of government that they have been wanting to move to,” he said. “They believe that Clarksville has gotten to the level that they need a full-time professional manager.”
Baity said the role of a town manager can vary and that his role will be worked out with the council. He compared the role of a town manager to a board of directors in a corporation. But before the details are ironed out, Baity said he needs to get to know the people he’ll be working with.
He also admitted he’ll have to get used to calling his home a town instead of a city. Baity added that Carbondale differs from Clarksville in that it’s home to Southern Illinois University, but the two share similar demographics and landscapes.
“Clarksville is a center for retail shopping for the surrounding area much like Carbondale is. There seems to be a very progressive community that’s forward thinking and wanting to do a lot of redevelopment of older areas [much like Carbondale],” Baity said. “So I think my experience there ... can mold together to help [Clarksville] meet their goals and objectives.”
Prior to serving as the Carbondale city manager, Baity served as city administrator for Flora, Ill., and as director of community development for Centralia, Ill. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geology from Southern Illinois University, where he is expected to earn his Masters in Public Administration in August. He also holds an Associate of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Lincoln Trail College.
Other candidates for the job were David Strahl of Mount Prospect, Ill.; Joe Fivas of Indian Trail, N.C.; Kevin Smith of Anderson; and Tim Borland of Steubenville, Ohio.
Baity’s hire is pending a background check and contract approvals. Baity said he expects the council will approve his contract at the next council meeting.