The City of Kodiak has secured a local city clerk to replace outgoing clerk, Michelle Shuravloff-Nelson, who is leaving the position in less than two weeks on May 23.
This is one of several city positions that was in limbo as the city is still hiring for a city manager, a deputy finance director and a fire chief, among other positions.
Shuravloff-Nelson announced in February that she would be resigning as the city clerk after her last day on May 23. In response, the city council formed a hiring committee two months ago on March 11 and negotiated with deputy clerk Brandy Warnecke to take over the position once Shuravloff-Nelson is done. According to city documents, Warnecke’s contract includes an annual salary of $127,500.
During last week’s city council meeting on May 8, Councilmember Annika Woods said the city will benefit from having Warnecke in the head clerk position.
“I think we are incredibly lucky as a city to have in-house talent and congratulations Brandy," Woods said.
Warnecke’s promotion will go into effect on May 24 and her first day as the city clerk will be on May 27.
As far as the city manager position goes, last week on May 8 the City Council re-appointed acting city manager Josie Bahnke for another 90-day term at the same rate of pay as before. That rate was negotiated between the council and Bahnke then retroactively raised last October, but was not specifically shared with the public. Bahnke has been the acting city manager almost continuously since May 1 of 2024, following the end of Mike Tvenge’s tenure as the city manager.
Meanwhile, a Florida-based firm has been recruiting for Kodiak’s next permanent city manager for the last few months.
Colin Baenziger & Associates said applications will be screened through June 4 and finalists will be selected on June 5. The firm extended the application period another week, from May 1 to May 9 to give more time to receive additional applicants, according to a recruitment brochure the city shared during a work session on May 6.
Mayor Pat Branson told the Kodiak Daily Mirror that they’re on track to hire a new city manager by the end of June.
The city is also in the process of hiring a fire chief, deputy finance director and finance director, although those positions are being handled by a couple of staff on an interim basis.
Steel McNeil took over as acting fire chief after Frank Dorner left the position at the end of January. The city’s job listing website does not currently list the fire chief position as open.
Finance Director Julie Liew has been contracting with the city on an emergency basis since at least March and is still filling in temporarily for the city as the finance director during the budget season. She is listed as the city's finance director in an agenda item for an upcoming work session on May 20, which focuses on the fiscal year budget.
