HUMBOLDT — Cole Herder was appointed city administrator Thursday evening.
Herder replaces Larry Tucker, who resigned to accept an administrative position in Butler, Mo.
Herder, 52, was one of six applicants, vetted by a committee of council members and Mayor Nobby Davis.
“We reduced that to two, interviewed each applicant and decided on Cole,” said Sunny Shreeve, a committee member. She made the motion to hire Herder on a two-year contract, which drew a 6-0 vote. Council members Wayne Smith and JoAnn Evans were absent. Herder will be paid $55,000 a year.
“We’re on the road to better days,” Davis said after the appointment.
“I’m excited and eager to get started,” Herder chimed in. “I’ll do all I can to do you right.”
Herder has no previous public administration experience, but he has been involved in several community betterment groups.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, he has lived in Humboldt since 1966, except for three years while he was earning a degree in electrical engineering at Wichita State University.
For the past four years Herder has worked for Microtronics, near Gas, in engineering and before that he was with Everbright in Chanute for 19 years in quality assurance, sales “and anything else needed.”
“I know I have a lot to learn, but I’m ready to jump in and work with the rest of the team,” Herder said. “More than anything else, I want to do what’s best for Humboldt.
