Council appoints Sadler as city manager

Ed Sadler was officially appointed as the new city manager of Sidney during Tuesday evening's regular city council meeting, filling the position vacated by longtime city manager Gary Person in August last year.

"I've been pretending for two days," Sadler joked with the council after they approved the resolution formally appointing him to his new position.

The city manager serves as the city's chief executive officer (CEO) and is responsible for managing day-to-day operations. City clerk/treasurer Geri Anthony has served as interim city manager since Person's resignation.

Person served as the city manager of Sidney for 16 years before resigning amidst controversy involving former Sidney Police Chief B.J. Wilkinson stemming from an incident with former city employee John Hehnke. He is currently the CEO of the North Platte Chamber of Commerce and Development Corporation.

Sadler, previously the city manager of Webster City, Iowa, was chosen from three finalists for the position. He also served as the assistant city manager for Aspen, Colo., and has a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Wyoming.

Sadler's salary is set at $113,000 a year with a $300 per month auto allowance. Assistance with moving expenses and temporary living was also in the contract.

Sidney mayor Mark Nienhueser and the rest of the council thanked Anthony for the work she performed as the city's interim city manager. Anthony returned the appreciation to the council for believing in her to do the job.

"Hopefully, I did halfway decent," she said.

Anthony also thanked the city's staff and department heads, without whom she said she could not have possibly done the job.

"They had my back and made the job easier," she said. "So I want to thank everybody for all you've done."

Councilor Roger Gallaway said Anthony's work had been "exemplary in all facets."

"But we've gotten used to that, so we appreciate it very much," Gallaway said.

Councilors Joe Arterburn and Chris Gay echoed Gallaway's comments, thanking city staff for keeping everything on track. Councilor Wendall Gaston was not present for the meeting as he was participating in a District 47 legislative candidate forum in Bridgeport.

To close out Tuesday's meeting, Nienhueser thanked city staff again and welcomed Sadler to Sidney.

"Ed brings a lot of great strengths," Nienhueser said. "A lot of good years in city management, and a lot of good years of experience at economic development with a proven track record."

Nienhueser said times have been tough for the community during the past year. He pointed out changes in agriculture commodity prices, the closure of two manufacturing sites, layoffs and "the unknowns with Cabella's" as examples that have made it trying times for Sidney.

"But we've got a great infrastructure put in place that we need to continue to promote it in a more specific, targeted way," Nienhueser said.

Nienhueser said Economic Development Director Tina Hochwender has done an excellent job keeping things going, such as setting up next week's visit from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NEDED).

He said there are many positive things in happening or have happened in the community in the last year, including the opening of the new Sidney Regional Medical Center hospital, new businesses such as the Fairfield Inn and Applebee's restaurant, new housing developments, infrastructure growth and the Sidney Aquatic Center.

"So there's a lot of positive things, also," Nienhueser said. "It's been kind of trying in the last six to eight months, but we're going to make this curve, we're going to go around it and we're going to take off again and get moving."