By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH, MI – Berrien County could soon have a new County Administrator after interviews the last two weeks and the Board of Commissioners’ decision to offer the job to Greg Vlietstra of Kalamazoo County.
Berrien County Commissioner Robert Harrison confirmed last week that the county board settled unanimously on Vlietstra as their top pick for the post after conducting a second round of interviews last Thursday with him and the other finalist, Kipling Belcher. Belcher is a retired Michigan State Police commander.
The county board interviewed Vlietstra, Belcher, and two other candidates, Joshua Eggleston and Howard Fink, in the first round of interviews held June 11.
Harrison said contract negotiations have begun with Vlietstra with the goal of having a contract ready for the full board to sign in the next few weeks. Harrison said the county’s negotiating team will consist of himself, Board Chairman McKinley “Mac” Elliott, Corporate Counsel Thaddeus Hackworth, and consultant Chet Janik.
The county administrator position had been advertised with a salary range of $160,000 to $180,000 plus benefits. The county asked for applicants who had at least a bachelor’s degree in public administration business management, finance or law, and a minimum of 19 years of experience in public administration.
Vlietstra is the chief administrative officer of the Central County Transportation Authority in Kalamazoo County, a position he’s held for 10 years. His previous experience includes other positions in Kalamazoo County government, the Galesburg-Augusta schools and the city of Portage. He has a wide range of experience in business and fiscal management as well as general government.
In his application letter, Vlietstra said that over 35 employees report to him in his current position with the Kalamazoo Central County Transportation Authority and he oversees a $28 million budget. He reported that he has over 25 years of financial and management public sector experience.
Harrison said that Vlietstra and Belcher both also met with county elected officials and department heads last week in addition to participating in the second round of interviews.
“We did like both candidates but when we looked at some of the issues we’re facing with the road department and a possible countywide transportation system, we felt he had experience with all of that,” Harrison said in a phone interview late last week.
“He has experience with the issues that are facing the county,” he added. “He worked for the city of Portage (Mich.) and has a good scope of governmental service. His references were all very positive. In the end, commissioners felt he was a better fit for the job.”
Harrison noted that Vlietstra currently resides in Portage and said that it was his intention to move to Berrien County. Harrison said that the county board’s rules say that the administrator needs to live within 25 miles of the Berrien County line. Dissette lived in South Haven during his tenure with Berrien County.
Harrison said that Vlietstra has indicated that he could start his new duties in Berrien County some time in August. “He said he could start in August which gives him time to give notice and for us to work out the contract details,” he said.
Harrison said that it is the board’s hope that Interim County Administrator and retired County Prosecutor Mike Sepic will stay on until then. “He’s done a great job filling in. He’s a good, thoughtful guy,” he said.
Brian Dissette resigned as county administrator at the end of January after serving five-and-a-half years in that position to take a the deputy county administrator position in Ottawa County.
The search was conducted by the Michigan Leadership Institute. The county initially set an application deadline of mid-April but extended the deadline to May 21 after the search committee did not find enough candidates for a first round of interviews. A total of 72 candidates applied.