Village hires administrator

The Village of St. Joseph has its administrator.
During its June 22 meeting the village board voted to hire Joseph Hackney.

Since 2019 Hackney has been the administrator, zoning administrator and coding enforcement officers in the City of Valley falls, Kansas.

Hackney will start in St. Joseph on July 26 and will be paid $75,000 said Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges.

“He is very passionate about local government,” she said.

The village began discussing a village administrator in 2009 and began the search in earnest in February 2021.

Approximately 10 candidates applied for the position and the village interviewed four of them via zoom. Two candidates were then interviewed in person.

Fruhling-Voges said she feels Hackney is the best person for the position.

“His character, his passion for local government and experience in team leadership were all qualities that we were looking for to help move the village to the next level,” she said.

Hackney will serve as the budget officer for the village and will prepare the annual budget and long-range capital improvement program for the budget. He will also present monthly reports to the board regarding the financial condition of the village. He will also be the purchasing agent for the village.

“He will be a go-getter,” Fruhling-Voges said. “He is open to new ideas and willing to adapt. He also talks about the team aspect a lot and bringing that to the table is so important.”

Hackney is tasked with carrying out the Board of Trustee’s policies and assisting in the enforcement of laws and ordinances of the village. He will also function as the village’s Human Resources department, create agendas for meetings, provide the board members with research and information to assist in their decision making. While the administrator cannot vote on issues before the board, they are able to be a part of the discussions taking place at board meetings or committee meetings.

“I want him to come in and work with me for us to have a good team,” Fruhling-Voges said. “I want him to coach us. He brought that into a lot if his answers.”

Hackney will also prepare, maintain and revise on a continuing basis a plan for maintaining current businesses and attracting new ones. He will also represent the village at community council, chamber of commerce, regional planning and other meetings.

Fruhling-Voges said Hackney will be available to the community five days a week.

“Things will be addressed in a timely fashion,” she said. “He is very easy to talk to, a great listener and very willing to learn.”