By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Great Bend City Administrator Kendal Francis was hired as the Hutchinson City Administrator with the approval of his contract by the Hutchinson City Council in their meeting on Tuesday.
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Francis will start in Hutchinson after the New Year's holiday and receive a bi-weekly base salary of $6,730.77 and a one time payment of $10,000 for relocation, housing, down payment assistance and related incidentals.
"I was born and raised in Kansas, lived here my entire life," Francis said. "I have four children, ages 15 to 27. My family and I, we're anxious to get this move going. Please give me some time. We're transitioning now, I won't be here on the 1st. Thanks to K-State's last game, I will probably be enjoying the fruits of their bowl game."
The City also is going to contribute three percent (3%) of Francis' base salary on his behalf to a deferred compensation program of his choice.
He will also receive a $500 a month vehicle allowance to use his own vehicle for city business and a $100 a month cell phone allowance.
"I'm very excited for this opportunity," Francis said. "I want to say thank you. I've had a few people who have reached out to me, connected on social media and other platforms to introduce themselves and to welcome me. I'm very touched by that, so thank you. To those that I have yet to meet, I'm looking forward to it. I'm very much a collaborative person. I'm very much looking forward to the opportunities that we have with our community partners to help move this city forward."
Francis has worked in municipal positions since at least 1994. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was a wastewater treatment plant operator in Beloit from 1994 to 2007 and foreman of the water plant from 2007 to 2009, before being named Director of Water/Wastewater Operations in March of 2009 and holding that job until January of 2014.
He then became City Administrator in Lakin for a year and a half, then Coffeyville for not quite three years, before coming to Great Bend in July of 2018.
Interim City Manager Gary Meagher has been serving Hutchinson since Jeff Cantrell's contract was not renewed in mid-May.