The City of Sandusky is a scenic Great Lakes port and tourism community and the county seat of Erie County, Ohio, with a population just over 25,000. The City is located on Sandusky Bay on the southern shore of Lake Erie, midway between Cleveland and Toledo. The total area of the City is about 22 square miles with water covering roughly 12 square miles of that area. Over 22 miles of shoreline are located within the City limits.
The City is a proudly diverse community with approximately a third of its population non-white. Sandusky offers safe small town living with easy access to the benefits of major metropolitan areas. The distinctive historic architecture, beautifully landscaped parks and friendly atmosphere offer an appealing charm to Sandusky visitors and residents.
Sandusky’s walkable neighborhoods are filled with quality, affordable, and diverse housing. Housing options include historic, new construction, lofts, and town homes, and are in close proximity to over 30 City parks. Sperling’s Best Places estimates that the Sandusky cost of living is 34.2% lower than the national median.
The City continues to benefit from easy access to its waterfront for both residents and visitors from throughout the Midwest. Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky’s most famous attraction and the most visited seasonal amusement park in the United States, has 3.5 million visitors annually and has been named the “best amusement park in the world.” Lake Erie provides other outdoor popular recreational attractions which include boating, fishing, and other water sports. In addition, there are many indoor and outdoor water parks.
Sandusky is currently experiencing a downtown renaissance and is quickly becoming a cultural and recreational destination with quality shopping, dining and entertainment for residents and visitors to enjoy.
The Sandusky School District operates 10 public schools including five elementary schools, one middle school, one traditional high school, an alternative high school, a school for gifted students in grades 3–12, and a career center with programs for adults. Approximately 87% of the residents over 25 have a high school or higher level of education. St. Mary Central Catholic High School and Monroe Prep Academy, a private charter school, are also located in Sandusky.
Awards received by the City: USA Today Best Coastal Small Town (2019 & 2023); Ohio Magazine Best Hometowns (2021-2022); Realtor.com #1 Most Affordable Lake Town in America (2021) and US News & World Report Top 20 Best Family Vacations in the USA (2021).
Sandusky operates under a commission/manager form of government. Seven commission members are elected on a nonpartisan basis to overlapping four-year terms every two years. Commissioners elect one of their members as the Commission President and another as Vice-President. The President presides over Commission meetings, participates, and votes as a member of the Commission but does not have veto authority. The President is also the official head of the Commission for all ceremonial purposes. City Commission appoints a City Manager who serves as the administrative head of the government. The City Commission sets City policy and City Manager and City staff implement it.
Sandusky has 241 full-time employees, most of whom are represented by recognized unions. The City provides a full range of municipal services including police, fire, planning and zoning, engineering and public works, transit, economic development, code compliance, IT, building department, finance department, customer accounting, human resources, recreation, streets and utilities, facilities, maintenance and properties, cemetery, forestry, horticulture, fleet maintenance, water treatment, and wastewater treatment. The total City 2023 budget is $89.5 million with $29.3 million allocated in the General Fund. The General Fund has an unallocated balance of $5.5 million. The City’s five-year $176 million Capital improvements has $69 million planned for expenditure in 2023. Sandusky is rated A1 by Moody’s Investors Service.
Among other Charter prescribed responsibilities of the City Manager are to see that the laws and ordinances are enforced; to appoint and remove all heads of departments and all subordinate officers and employees of the City; to exercise control over all departments and divisions; to attend all meetings of the City Commission with the right to take part in the discussions but having no vote; to recommend to the City Commission for adoption such measures as he or she deems necessary or expedient; to prepare and administer the City’s budget and to keep the City Commission fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the City; and to perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or be required of him or her by ordinance or resolution of the City Commission.
A Bachelor’s Degree in business, public administration or a related field is required combined with at least four years of progressive management experience. Prefer a Master’s Degree and experience gained in a public agency with similar complexity to Sandusky.
The Ideal Candidate is a trustworthy, competent leader and manager who will always further the best interests of the City; is a person with the strength of character to honestly advise the Commission on matters that may become controversial; is politically astute but not politically active; has exceptional interpersonal skills, a sense of humor and an outgoing, friendly personality; has clearly superior management and leadership abilities; is a visionary who can see Sandusky in the future, understands strategic planning, and is willing to take risks to set and meet objectives; is strong in finance and budget with the expertise and commitment to maintain a balanced budget with adequate reserves; stays current in the profession through active membership in professional associations or by other means; is a strong, collaborator among residents, policy makers, and staff; is comfortable working in a midwestern community with a diverse population; understands that all neighborhoods have legitimate demands for service and will strive to equitably serve all sectors of the community; is looking for a long-term commitment to Sandusky and will become a Sandusky resident.
Compensation and Benefits
The compensation for the position is negotiable based on qualifications and experience.
Application and Selection Process
The recruitment will remain open until the position is filled. The first review of applications is scheduled for June 9, 2023.
To apply, please send a letter of application, detailed resume, and current salary to:
Robert E. Slavin, President or David Krings, Midwest Regional Manager
Titusville is located on the east coast of Florida, 40 miles east of Orlando, along the Indian River Lagoon in Brevard County. The City covers 30 square miles and serves a population of 50,000 citizens. The City’s central location provides easy access to Canaveral National Seashore, Daytona International Speedway, Port Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center, and all Orlando attractions. Titusville was primarily a residential City serving the space industry, but in the past decade has evolved into a landing spot for industries serving the expanding public and private ventures of Cape Canaveral, US Space Force and NASA.
Titusville has a sustained thriving local economy spurred by the space industry and is a destination of choice for US residential and industrial relocations targeting sunny Florida and an income tax-free, business-friendly environment. Titusville is also 40 minutes away from Orlando, the southeast US’s premier business and supply hub. Despite its economic viability and modern housing options, Titusville retains a small-town feel with easy access to rural village living.
