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The Village of Calumet is conducting the second round of its hiring process as it looks for a new manager this week. Stang Decision Systems pulled together nine candidates, winnowing it down to four for Zoom interviews that began on Tuesday. Stang’s Jody Johnson moderated the sessions for two candidates with members Andrew Ranville, President Pro-Tem Rob Tarvis, and Council President Brian Abramson also asking questions.
Each candidate got between 45 and 60 minutes. Kelly Beattie is the Executive Director of Fort Meigs, near Toledo. He has also served in the clerk’s office for the City of Ann Arbor. Beattie says he thinks Calumet could benefit from resident engagement programs he ran at his former stop.
Beattie says he has extensive history with grant writing and local government, but will need time to learn the operational aspects of the manager’s position.
David Karst was also interviewed Tuesday. He is currently getting a graduate degree in urban planning, and has had prior private sector experience as a realtor and cartographer, a map maker.
When Karst was asked how he would navigate divisions within the community on various issues. He says you have to always remember the goal is to find the best solution for the village as a whole.
Karst is a frequent visitor to the area. He said his family first made the trip in the late-1970’s and he was in Copper Harbor earlier this month.
Two more interviews are set for Wednesday night in the council chambers at Village Hall. The candidates who make the final cut will be interviewed in person at a later council meeting.
