Search for new urban forester narrowed to nine

McMinnville?s Building and Grounds Committee has narrowed the applicants for the city?s urban forester/horticulturist position in the absence of a city administrator.

Discussion was made to waiting until a city administrator could be found before narrowing down the remaining applicants, but city officials decided to proceed anyway.

?We are in the process of trying to hire a city administrator,? said committee member Patti Nunley. ?The board last year put into effect an ordinance that will allow the next city administrator, if we ever have one, to do all the hiring and firing including department head levels. Do we want to proceed at this time or do we want to wait and see if we get one??

That opinion was also expressed by committee member Jimmy Haley who added, ?I thought we were going to let the city administrator do the hiring and firing. But, we can proceed with it if you think that?s what we need to do.?

Waiting until the city finds a new city administrator could push back finding a department head for the urban forestry department several months. During that time, this year?s planting season could be lost said committee chair Billy Wood.

?If we hire an urban forester, especially a local one,? said Wood. ?He could go ahead and start getting things ready for spring planting season. I personally don?t see any reason to wait.?

It was agreed to go ahead and start the elimination process. Seven names of those who didn?t meet the qualifications were removed from the list of 16. Two local residents remain on the current list.

? Locals ? Hank Patton and Dr. Frank A. Mrema.

? Remaining applicants ? Paul Pinco, Travis Hawkins Sr., David A. Jahn, Jerry R. Walling, John S. Baggett, Bernard Wisnowski and Jeremy Meyer.

Given the lack of time, the meeting was adjourned to allow the members to take a closer look at the remaining nine applicants.