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Cecka winds down duties as interim city administrator
5/23/2012 10:03:10 AM
Splash Correspondent
Interim city administrator Mike Cecka officially announced at the May 15 City Council meeting that he will be stepping down at the end of the month.
 CECKA |
Originally brought on as the city's municipal consultant last fall, Cecka was instrumental in the process that led to the hiring of new City Administrator Katy Allen as well as transitioning Mayor Steve Peterson into office.
"Mike has had a calming effect on myself, the employees and city council," Peterson said. "Everything that Mike has done has been very well thought out, very deliberate. He's been a great right hand to have."
During last Tuesday's City Council meeting, Cecka drew accolades from Police Chief Brian Asmus and several council members.
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"We hired Mike to get through the election and to figure out what we needed to get a city administrator on board. The level of detail and thought in the interview process was fantastic," Council Member Josh Beckett said. "Speaking as a councilman, I have nothing but great things to say, but it's only been six months. It would be unfair to judge his impact on the city prematurely."
Cecka came on in the wake of the failed Proposition 1 that proposed to change the city's government structure from the current strong mayor/City Council configuration to a non-elected city manager that would report directly to the City Council. Voters soundly rejected the format change, with 70 percent opposing the initiative.
Cecka's methodical leadership style was apparent during the search for a full-time city administrator.
"I like to do my research," Cecka said. "I like to get my information together before proceeding. I try to pay attention to details but have a good overall sense of where we are trying to go. I try to be open and direct and honest with people that I interact with and then try and provide information to the decision makers that's thorough and well-reasoned."
Allen will become the second city administrator in Liberty Lake's history. Lewis Griffin served as the city's first city administrator until the end of 2005. Mayor Peterson, in a previous term, eliminated the position citing monetary and efficiency concerns. The duties of the city administrator shifted to the heads of the various departments after Griffin's departure.
Last year, the City Council approved the city administrator position as part of the 2012 budget.
"Choosing the permanent replacement for city administrator was probably Mike's biggest contribution to our city," City Council Member Odin Langford said.
All eyes will be on Allen, most recently the director of Public Works and Utilities for the city of Bremerton and a longtime Liberty Lake homeowner, as she fills the highest-ranking administrative position in the city.
"[Allen] is extremely well qualified - her public works experience, her ability to deliver projects and to work with various constituencies is a strong point of hers," Cecka said.
Langford added that it remains to be seen how the shift from Cecka to Allen will work.
"We are hoping for the best," he said. "We don't know what that transition will look like, but we wouldn't have picked her if she wasn't the best candidate," he said.
After Allen takes over in June, Cecka plans to take a much-deserved break, including some vacation time in his sailboat on the waters of Puget Sound.