Anna city administrator announces at special council meeting he plans to leave post May 4

Anna’s long-time city administrator plans to step away from his post, effective May 4.

Steve Guined announced his plans during a special meeting of the Anna City Council which was held last Saturday morning. The meeting was at Anna City Hall.

The city also has received a letter of resignation, for retirement purposes, from Anna Police Chief Michael Hunter.

Saturday morning’s meeting was attended by all of the council’s current members. Mayor Steve Hartline and city council members David Isom, Al Kamp, Dave Tellor and Martha Ann Webb were present.

Also in attendance were Kathy Bryan and Bryan Miller. Bryan and Miller were elected to the city council on April 2. They will take office on May 7.

The special meeting opened with action related to two items of  new business which were on the agenda.

The council approved renewal of a liability insurance package with Tokyo Marine for the period of May 1, 2019, through April 30, 2020, at a cost of $114,954.

The council also approved a resolution for a memorandum of understanding between the city and the Union County Soil and Water Conservation District. The district is planning to establish an educational nature trail around the pond at the Anna City Park.

Following the action on the two items of new business, the council planned to go into closed discussion to discuss personnel.

City Administrator Announcement

However, before the council went into closed session, city administrator Guined addressed the council regarding his role with the city. 

Guined has been employed by the city since 1990. In October 2017, the city administrator announced his plans to retire, effective on April 30, 2018.

In the meantime, several key city employees retired and another accepted a new job. The actions led the city losing nearly 100 years worth of management experience.

Faced with the loss of the employees and their experience, the council asked Guined to stay on as city administrator. He agreed to the request and was working on a one-year contract through a company which offers employment for senior executives. 

Guined said that the one-year contract ends on May 4. The city administrator said he had been asked again to extend his retirement plans – but he has chosen not to do so.

“May 4 will be my last day,” Guined said at Saturday’s special meeting. Guined said that he made the decision about his last day with the city on Friday night.

The city council is in the process of hiring a person to fill an assistant administrator’s post. The hope has been that whoever is hired to fill the job would have an opportunity to work with Guined during a key period of transition for the city.

In addition to experiencing the loss of key personnel, the city council will be undergoing its period of transition this spring.

Three new city council members were elected by Anna’s voters on April 2. The new council members will be Bryan, Miller and Michael Bigler. Bigler formerly served on the council.

Mayor Hartline and council member Webb were reelected on April 2.

Guined said he had decided that it would be best for the new city council to make the decision regarding the hiring of his successor.

Guined noted that he will be willing to work with the new council during the transition period.

He reflected on how much conditions in the city had improved since he began work. 

During his first year on the job, the city was faced with not having enough money to cover payroll. The city’s natural gas and water systems faced major challenges.

Over the years, major infrastructure improvements have been made. In terms of finances, the city has nearly $6 million in the bank.

Millions of dollars in grant funds have supported infrastructure improvements. The city’s financial situation has improved without an increase in taxes; Guined noted that Anna’s property tax rate actually dropped.

He said that the council and city employees all have done their part to improve the community.

“We’ve all pulled together,” he said. “I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish as a team.” 

In terms of making his retirement official, Guined said: “I think it’s appropriate to do it now.”

All of the members of the city council voiced their appreciation to Guined for the work he has done.

Council member Tellor thanked Guined for “thirty years of friendship.” 

Council member Kamp said that Guined always has had the best interests of the city in mind.

Mayor Hartline said he was glad that the two persons who will take their seats on the council in May were in attendance at Saturday’s special meeting.

The mayor said that the city will be undergoing the biggest administrative decisions that it has faced in the last 20 to 25 years.

Police Chief to Retire

Anna Police Hunter’s resignation for retirement purposes is effective May 31. 

Hunter has served with the Anna Police Department for more than 20 years. He has served as police chief for three years.

The city plans to advertise to fill the post of police chief.