Search continues for city manager

As far as Sallisaw Mayor Ernie Martens is concerned, slow and steady wins the race.

The search for a successor to Keith Skelton, who resigned as city manager in June, has progressed at a snail’s pace during the past four months. But Martens is fine with the process taking however much time it takes to ensure the right candidate is selected. The first tangible indication that there may be a viable candidate occurred Monday when Martens and city commissioners convened for a special meeting to interview a candidate in a two-hour executive session.

Following the meeting with the first qualified candidate, whose name was not revealed, the city commissioners announced that no action was taken while behind closed doors.

So the search continues. Oklahoma Municipal Management Services is conducting executive recruitment for the position, and is evaluating applicants in an effort to identify finalists for consideration by Martens and city commissioners.

One other finalist is said to have been identified, with an interview to be scheduled.

Skelton, who had served 30 years as a city employee and the past six as city manager, resigned his position on June 17. The recently embattled Skelton came under fire in April and May, and more than 800 people — not all residents of Sallisaw — signed a petition calling for his removal as city manager.

But the petition was rejected because it did not adhere to city charter specifications regarding the required number of signatures from registered Sallisaw voters. In addition, petitions apply only to elected officials, and Skelton was a city employee.

Skelton’s last day of employment was June 21. Since that date, Robin Haggard has served as interim city manager, in addition to continuing her duties as the city’s director of finance.