With just a couple weeks left before Alliance City Manager Seth Sorensen leaves the position, the Alliance City Council has tapped two department heads to fill the vacancy on an interim basis.
The Alliance City Council is expected, at its regular meeting Tuesday, to approve Cultural and Leisure Services Director Shana Brown and Alliance Volunteer Fire Department Chief Troy Shoemaker to fill the void left by Sorensen until a new city manager is selected. The meeting occurred after press time. According to the Narrative found in the City Council packet for the Oct. 21 meeting, the selection of Brown and Shoemaker comes after conversations with department heads.
“It is the general feeling of Department heads that they would prefer to fill the interim role using a current city employee rather than contracting out the work or otherwise hiring someone on an interim basis for the following reasons: (1) to save money; (2) Staff is aware of what is currently going on in the City whereas introducing a third party would require a learning curve; (3) no desire to have a third party come onboard who may change the current direction of budget, projects, or personnel,” the Narrative states.
The Narrative also states that Brown and Shoemaker have agreed to take on the additional responsibilities, and recommends that they receive additional pay while acting as interim city managers. The pay increase would be $1,500 per pay period in addition to their current salaries. The agreement, if approved by Council, would take effect on November 1 and last until a new city manager begins work, or another arrangement is implemented.
At the Council meeting on October 7, Council Members accepted the resignation of Sorensen, citing the positive impact he has had on the city.
“I just want to say that it is with regret that we accept your resignation, Seth,” Mayor John McGhehey said after making the motion to approve the resignation. “I feel that you have been an asset to the city since you came here. I’ve seen the progress in the city, having sat on the Council the whole time that you’ve been here. I just want to thank you for the service that you’ve given.”
Council Member Travis Turman echoed McGhehey, thanking Sorensen for his efforts.
“You’ve done a lot of work to get this city to where it is,” Turman said. “It’s unfortunate that you are departing us. I think you’ve done a fantastic job.”
After unanimously approving the resignation, the Council discussed the next steps in finding a replacement for Sorensen. The Council agreed to meet with Sorensen to determine the best course of action, and added it to the agenda for their meeting on October 21.
According to the Narrative in the Council packet for the October 21 meeting, it is recommended that the City enter into a contract with Government Professional Services, a recruiting firm, to help locate a new City Manager. This contract will cost a total of $22,500. Government Professional Services, based in Colorado, was used in the search for a new Chief of Police for the Alliance Police Department in 2024, which brought Chief David Leavitt to Alliance. The contract with GPS would provide an 18-month guarantee. The Council is expected to approve the agreement.
Sorensen’s last day as City Manager will be on October 31.