Casper City Council probably will select a new city manager from five candidates by Tuesday evening, the head of the recruitment firm it hired said Sunday.

Chester Nolen, executive vice president for the Keller, Texas-based Strategic Government Resources, said council wanted to move fast to hire a replacement for John Patterson, who retires Nov. 1.

"Council had asked us to narrow the field to finalists, rather than going through a long extended process," Nolen said during a reception for the candidates at the Casper Events Center on Sunday evening.

"They wanted somebody on board no later than November the first, but preferably about October the 15th, trying to make a decision tomorrow (Monday) evening and will vote on the individual candidate on Tuesday at a council meeting," he said.

In July, council hired Strategic Government Resources for $27,000 to search for a new city manager.

Nolen said the firm received nearly 40 applications, and narrowed the field to five finalists.

While respecting Patterson's work especially with major projects such as the downtown plaza and the Hogadon Ski Area, Nolen said council wanted the new manager to be able to look in some different directions.

"Council had the thought and feeling that, 'we've got all these projects on the table, the economy is kind of changing, we need to finish these projects, and then see where we go from there,'" he said.

The city manager's office named the candidates last week, held the reception Sunday, and is interviewing them today during an executive session at the Hilton Garden Inn on North Poplar Street. The executive session is not open to the public.

After the interviews, council will adjourn the executive session. Council will not schedule any action for the work session.

If council has chosen a candidate by Tuesday, council agenda will include a minute action for the selection during its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

These are the finalists:

  • Wade Farris – Othello, Wash.
  • Tony O’Rourke – Yakima, Wash.
  • Shawn Kessel – Dickinson N.D.
  • Carter Napier – Gillette.
  • V.H. McDonald – Casper.

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