Battle Creek Commission Offers City Manager Position to Amanda Zimmerlin

The Battle Creek City Commission has unanimously voted to offer the city manager position to Amanda Zimmerlin, currently serving as city manager in Clayton, Ohio.

This decision follows a comprehensive search process initiated after the retirement of former City Manager Rebecca Fleury in November 2024.

Zimmerlin emerged as the top candidate after interviews with the commission and a public forum where residents engaged with the finalists.

She has been the city manager of Clayton since February 2020 and previously served as assistant city administrator for Springdale, Ohio, from 2016 to 2020.

Zimmerlin holds a bachelor's degree in political science and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Dayton.

During her interview, Zimmerlin emphasized the importance of addressing housing issues in Battle Creek.

She suggested revising zoning codes to facilitate infill construction and leveraging federal and state grants to support local businesses.

Mayor Mark Behnke praised Zimmerlin's approach, noting her humility and strong performance in both the commission interview and public forum.

He expressed optimism about finalizing the contract soon, acknowledging that negotiations are a standard part of such appointments.

The offer is contingent upon successful contract negotiations and a background check.

The city aims to have an approved contract by the commission's first meeting in September.

Other finalists for the position included Carl Geffken, former city manager of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Matt Harline, former village manager of Villa Park, Illinois.

The search was conducted with the assistance of Strategic Government Resources, and the position offers a salary range between $180,000 and $222,000 annually.

Since Fleury's retirement, Assistant City Manager Ted Dearing has been serving as interim city manager.