Byrnes Mill city officials have promoted Melinda Benedict to take over the city administrator job.
She already was working as the city clerk and will continue those duties, while filling the city administrator role, too.
The city administrator job has been vacant since November when Adam Thompson resigned, although retired Byrnes Mill City Administrator Debbie LaVenture came out of retirement to fill in as interim city administrator.
Benedict said the city received 25 to 30 applications for the city administrator position after Thompson resigned, but none fit the bill, so she decided to throw her hat in the ring.
The Byrnes Mill Board of Alderpersons voted 5-0 May 1, with Ward 1 Alderperson Bob Prado absent from the meeting, to add the city administrator job to Benedict’s role and to set her compensation at $35 an hour based on a 40-hour work week.
She had been paid $23 an hour as the city clerk.
Benedict, 45, lives in the Festus area and started working as an administrative assistant for the city of Byrnes Mill last spring, later being promoted to the city clerk position.
“I feel good about (the position),” Benedict said. “I started as an administrative assistant and kind of worked my way through to being a city clerk. I’ve really gotten to know the city and everyone here.”
Mayor Rob Kiczenski said Benedict’s transition from clerk to administrator should be a smooth one.
“Melinda has shown her ability to learn quickly,” he said. “I think with some additional training, she’ll be able to fill the role for us in a wonderful fashion. The board and myself are very pleased with her progress so far.”
Benedict said LaVenture is working about one day a week to help Benedict with the transition.
“We are very lucky – having her experience and knowledge really helped during this transition,” Kiczenski said.
Benedict said she loves speaking with people and helping them with issues they might have.
“My door will always be open,” Benedict said. “I would love to see more citizens come to the board meetings. When we have public meetings, come to them and tell the board what you’re seeing; let your voice be heard because it is very important.”
The next Board of Alderpersons will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5, at Byrnes Mill City Hall, 141 Osage Executive Circle.
Benedict said one of her first goals as city administrator is to take a closer look at its codes and ordinances to see what needs to be updated.
Deputy city clerk
Jennifer Siegel of Herculaneum began working as deputy city clerk on May 13. Siegel is being paid $20 an hour for the full-time position.
Benedict said the city looked through 50 to 60 applications before settling on Siegel, who brings prior office experience to the position.
“I, of course, don’t want to carry the administrator/city clerk title forever, so I will slowly be training her on the city clerk position and the different responsibilities for that,” Benedict said. “It will be a pretty smooth transition having her here.”