The Festus City Council on April 30 hired Benjamin DeClue as the new city administrator at the continuation of an April 27 meeting paused due to tornado warnings.
A decision on whether to fill an open Ward 2 seat with nominee Aaron Pashia was tabled.
Council members voted 7-0 to hire DeClue, currently the village administrator for New Baden, Ill. According to the agreement, he will have a salary of $160,000, as well as a yearly vehicle allowance of $4,800. He is to start at Festus on June 28 after giving New Baden required notice.
He was selected after 34 applied for the position and five finalists were interviewed by the mayor and council.
DeClue, who grew up in Crystal City and was on the Crystal City Council from 2005-2009, as well as served stints as an administrative intern in Crystal City and Festus, said in a phone interview this morning (May 1) he looks forward to returning to the Twin City area.
“I’m excited to reconnect with the people where I grew up,” he said. “I’m beyond excited.”
Greg Camp left the Festus city administrator position Feb. 20 to take a similar job in Silverthorne, Colo.
Michael Christopher, the public works director, has served as interim city administrator along with his existing job since Camp’s departure.
Mayor Sam Richards asked for and received a motion to table the decision until May 26 on Pashia, his nominee for the Ward 2 seat left open when Staci Templeton resigned April 13, and the council voted 7-0 to oblige.