After four years of serving as Alliance’s City Manager, Seth Sorensen has announced his resignation, noting he accepted a position in Texas.
Sorensen was selected to serve as City Manager in the summer of 2021. He submitted his resignation with an effective date of October 31.
“I had the chance to go back to Texas in an engineering role for a city down there,” said Sorensen.
He said during his tenure, the city of Alliance has taken on several projects, spurring growth in the city. He said the department heads have shown strength throughout his years of service.
“I’m really proud of the department heads,” Sorensen said. “I think that they took their already extensive knowledge and have really built on that and grown a lot, especially in project management and their budget areas. I’m really proud of the work that they have put in, and the progress they have made.
“We’ve had some pretty big projects going on in the Parks Department,” said Sorensen. “I’m really proud of having hired Chief Leavitt for the Police Department. He’s done a fantastic job for us. We’ve done quite a few projects: we did the tennis courts over by the high school, we did some of the dressing on the softball fields. We’ve done some road projects, we’ve done some water projects. We’re making good progress on getting the old power plant abated for any hazardous materials. We’re making progress on getting a proposed public safety center. There’s been a lot that’s gone on in the last couple years.”
The Alliance City Council is expected to accept Sorensen’s resignation at their regular meeting on Tuesday, which occurred after press time. The council will begin the search for a new city manager, which could take up to 12 months, according to Sorensen. The Council is expected to appoint someone on an interim basis.
Sorensen hopes that Alliance’s next City Manager will bring a lot of energy to the role to help build on Alliance’s strengths.
“I hope that they can bring some energy and reach out to the community,” Sorensen said. “Alliance has wonderful potential. One of the things the Council has identified is the need for some housing and some additional industry and jobs here. I hope that they can come in and focus on some economic development, getting our housing stock back up, and being able to compete with some of the surrounding cities that are growing. That would be a big win. Alliance really has a lot of potential, and hopefully they can come in with a vision of how to realize that potential.”
Sorensen hopes the next City Manager will forge strong alliances with the city’s existing businesses. In parting, he offers advice to whomever fills his position: listen.
“Listen before making a decision,” Sorensen said. “Get the input of those that have been here and find out why things have been done a certain way before coming in and turning everything on its head.”
Sorensen said he is grateful for the opportunity to serve Alliance.
“I’d just like to thank the Council for them having given me the opportunity to work with them,” said Sorensen. “I wish them luck. We’ve got some special elections coming up in the spring, and then, hopefully after that, in next November, we get back on a regular track. I wish them luck as they are going through these vacancies, and getting them filled with people who are ready and willing to serve the people of Alliance.”