BEAVERCREEK — Beavercreek City Manager Mike Cornell has announced plans to retire from his position at the end of 2016.
In a written statement, Cornell said that he plans to pursue opportunities in the private sector. Cornell’s contract with the city expires Dec. 31, 2016, according to city documents.
“We have accomplished what we set out to accomplish,” Cornell wrote in a statement. “It is time to have a new city manager continue the outstanding momentum in place here in Beavercreek.”
Cornell will retire from public service following 30 years in capacities in both Beavercreek and Fairborn. Cornell served as Fairborn’s assistant city manager and city manager from June 2000 to January 2007, when he started as Beavercreek’s city manager, a role that he has held since then.
“City Manager Cornell has raised the bar during his tenure,” Beavercreek Mayor Bob Stone said in a statement released by the city. “Now, we are looking forward to taking the governance of our city to the next level. We have high expectations of the new city manager in this critical and challenging role.”
According to Beavercreek Human Resources Manager Jill Bissinger, the city will conduct a national search to find Cornell’s replacement.
“The first step, which will occur shortly, will be to seek proposals from qualified firms to perform the executive search services for the position of city manager,” she wrote in an email. “During the course of the recruitment process, community forums are in the plans to afford the community opportunities to become informed and comment.”
According to Bissinger, the city’s plan is to bring the new city manager on board in early December 2016.
Beavercreek City Council will consider a resolution at its March 28 meeting to create a temporary three-member executive recruitment committee, which would aid council in finding the next city manager. Cornell said the committee will be made up of council members Deborah Wallace, Chad Whilding and Zach Upton.
According to city documents, the committee would have various responsibilities, including making a recommendation to city council about an executive search firm, approving a candidate profile and negotiating compensation with the prospective city manager, among other duties.
City council would make the final decision on the terms of the new city manager’s contract, including compensation.
Cornell called his time with Beavercreek a “very rewarding period of time.”
“I think that we have taken this organization to new heights in terms of efficiency and effectiveness,” Cornell said. “The partnerships that we’ve built in the community, it’s been outstanding.”
