Trenton officials still
negotiating with top city manager candidates

By Cindy Jo Ayers

The Trenton City Commissioners met on March 18 to rank their choices for the city manager position.
After the selection process Mark Smith of Miami was ranked first; Taylor Brown of Gainesville, who is the current Gilchrist County Planner, was ranked second. The third place spot was taken by Thomas Powell who lives in the county and is currently the supervisor of the city’s work crew.
The selection process required each commissioner to pick their top five candidates, and any candidate who received three votes or more was put on the final selection list.
Only three of the applicants received three votes or more. They were then put in order by averaging the commissioners’ ranking of each candidate one through three. After the averaging was completed by Robin Heath and City Attorney Duke Lang, the first place spot was taken by Mark Smith of Miami. Smith and his family own property in the county and are in the process of building a home here. Smith said that they plan to move here and spend the remainder of their lives in Gilchrist County.
Mayor Glen Thigpen contacted Mark Smith and asked him to come to the Monday, March 22, city meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to work out a salary for the position and to ask Smith several more questions.
Smith’s background was checked by Mayor Thigpen and Police Chief Billy Smith. Both his background checks came back fine according to the Mayor on Monday evening.
After a short presentation by Smith, Commissioner Arlene Wilks asked Smith, “Are you willing to get out and talk to people.” Smith said he would, and that he felt communication was the key to being involved in the community.
Smith went on to say that he felt Trenton should be elevated to the gem of Gilchrist County.
He also said the city needs a revenue base to have enough money to do the things that need doing.
He felt that finding money was the biggest challenge and said, “Out of the box thinking to generate funds is needed. Without funds you are hog tied.”
The Mayor asked Smith what salary he would be willing to work for as the City Manager and he replied $50,000. He went on to tell commissioners that with his business background, and years of experience, “I think its a fair salary for what I bring to the table.”
Commissioner Tim Kinsey told Smith he would like to see him work up to that level.
Smith told the commissioners that the last City Manager was 26 and he was 50, and there is a huge difference in maturity. The last Manager, Jered Ottenwess, started at $42,000 five years ago. Smith said, “I look at myself as a good fit to take Trenton to the next level.”
Mayor Thigpen told Smith that most people around this area liked the town the way it was and really did not want it changed a lot. He reminded Smith that the people of Gilchrist County were a little laid back and were not in a hurry to make Trenton into a big city.
Commissioner Kinsey made a motion that the City not agree to the $50,000 salary that Smith proposed but start him with a salary of $42,000. Commissioner Wilks seconded the motion, and the Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of Commissioner Kinsey’s motion.
When asked if he would be willing to come to work for that amount, Smith declined.
Commissioner Randy Rutter made a motion that Smith be paid $45,000, and Commissioner Marcia Hellams seconded the motion. Thigpen, Rutter and Hellams voted in favor of the offer.
Smith again declined to come to work as City Manager of Trenton for that amount. At that point Mayor Thigpen wished him well on his job search.
After Smith left the meeting, the commissioners began planning to meet with the second choice which was Taylor Brown.
The salary negotiation for Brown will be held on Monday, March 29 at 5:30 p.m.
If the negotiation with Brown falls through, then the third ranked Tom Powell will meet with commissioners on Tuesday evening at 5:30 to discuss the position and salary.