The city of Arnold has named Anthony Traxler as the next city administrator, Arnold officials announced today, Oct. 3.
Traxler is replacing Bryan Richison, who left Arnold in July to become the city administrator at Platte City. Richison had been Arnold’s city administrator since September 2013.
Traxler, who is the Public Works director and assistant city manager of Maplewood, is scheduled to start working for Arnold on Oct. 30. Traxler will be paid an annual salary of $160,000, according to a contract provided by the city.
“We are excited to welcome Anthony to our team,” said interim City Administrator Bill Lehmann, who is also Arnold’s finance director. “His extensive background, combined with his leadership experience in city management, makes him an exceptional fit for our community.
“The city had an extensive hiring process that included several qualified candidates and multiple interviews. Anthony made a very strong impression during the final interview with the City Council. We are grateful for all who participated in this process.”
Lehmann said City Council members voted 6-0 on Thursday, Oct. 2, during a closed session to hire Traxler. Ward 3 Councilwoman Peggy Allen and Ward 4 Councilman Gary Plunk were not at the meeting.
According to a statement announcing the hiring, Traxler has more than 29 years of local government experience and spent six years as either a city administrator or city manager.
Traxler has worked for Maplewood since 2008, overseeing that city’s Public Works, Building and Parks departments. Before that, he was the city administrator for Columbia, Ill, for four years.
He also has worked in the planning departments for Champaign, Ill., Chesterfield and Maryland Heights and served as the assistant to the city administrator of Frontenac.
Arnold has had two interim city administrators since Richison’s departure.
David Bookless, who had been Arnold’s Community Development Director since October 2018, was first appointed to the interim role on July 17. However, Bookless resigned from his Community Development director position and as the interim city administrator to become the deputy city manager of community vitality for Webster Groves in August.
Lehmann was named the interim city administrator on Aug. 21. Lehmann will continue to be the city’s finance director.
For more on Traxler, read the Oct. 9 Arnold-Imperial Leader.