City hires finance officer, Corn Palace director

Mitchell Mayor Ken Tracy has chosen a new finance officer for the city and new director for the Corn Palace.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1414024","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"180","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"160"}}]]In a news release Monday, Tracy named Dan Sabers, of Mitchell, the new director of the Corn Palace and Michelle Bathke, of Mitchell, the new finance officer for the city. Both of those appointments by Tracy are subject to the approval of the City Council at a future meeting. If both appointments are approved by the council, the city will have all of the positions at the head of each department filled for the first time since December 2013, when former Public Works Director Tim McGannon retired. Tracy told The Daily Republic on Monday he feels relieved to have all of the positions filled. “It seems like I have spent an inordinate amount of time during this past year interviewing candidates for various positions. I’m pleased that we’ve now completed all those interviews and have a full complement of department heads,” Tracy said. “I’m looking forward to having a full team.” Sabers is currently the clubhouse manager at Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell and was a high school basketball coach in the region for many years. Sabers told The Daily Republic on Monday he was intrigued by the position open at the Corn Palace when he decided to apply. “I’ve been going to basketball games at the Corn Palace since I was 4 years old,” said Sabers, who will relinquish his duties at Lakeview. Sabers is looking forward to taking on the responsibility, especially considering the multimillion dollar renovation currently underway at the Corn Palace. Sabers said he does not plan to make any major changes immediately upon taking over the position, but instead plans to work with the mayor and city administrator to develop plans for the city-owned facility. Sabers will replace former Corn Palace Director Mark Schilling, who resigned in March. Schilling was asked to resign after a state audit of the Corn Palace’s finances found he routinely counted money from the cash registers alone in his office, failed to keep and maintain proper financial records, and misused a city credit card on multiple occasions. Sabers is not the first candidate selected by Tracy to fill the position at the Corn Palace. Steve Koch, a 50-year-old Mitchell resident, was chosen in October but withdrew his name fewer than two days after his selection was announced. The same day Koch withdrew his name, The Daily Republic found Koch once faced multiple felony charges for misappropriating funds while working for his family’s business. Tracy said the city considered both old and new applicants, and conducted entirely new interviews in the most recent search to fill the position. Tracy said Sabers has a “vast wealth of experience” organizing and managing events. “It seemed to me that it was a great fit,” Tracy said. Sabers and Bathke are both expected to start in their new positions in mid-January. Sabers will be paid a salary of $70,000 per year and Bathke will be paid a salary of $75,000 per year. Bathke, who currently works at Innovative Systems in Mitchell, will replace Marilyn Wilson, who worked for the city for more than 35 years. Bathke said it will be difficult to replace Wilson but she looks forward to the challenge. Bathke is the wife of Jeff Bathke, Davison County’s emergency manager/planning and zoning administrator. Bathke already has experience working in the city’s finance office -- she worked as the city’s deputy finance officer from 2001 to 2009. Because of that, Bathke already has working relationships with many of the employees who work in the finance office. “I’m looking forward to working with them once again,” she said.Mitchell Mayor Ken Tracy has chosen a new finance officer for the city and new director for the Corn Palace. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1413988","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"250","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"166"}}]]
In a news release Monday, Tracy named Dan Sabers, of Mitchell, the new director of the Corn Palace and Michelle Bathke, of Mitchell, the new finance officer for the city. Both of those appointments by Tracy are subject to the approval of the City Council at a future meeting. If both appointments are approved by the council, the city will have all of the positions at the head of each department filled for the first time since December 2013, when former Public Works Director Tim McGannon retired. Tracy told The Daily Republic on Monday he feels relieved to have all of the positions filled. “It seems like I have spent an inordinate amount of time during this past year interviewing candidates for various positions. I’m pleased that we’ve now completed all those interviews and have a full complement of department heads,” Tracy said. “I’m looking forward to having a full team.” Sabers is currently the clubhouse manager at Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell and was a high school basketball coach in the region for many years. Sabers told The Daily Republic on Monday he was intrigued by the position open at the Corn Palace when he decided to apply. “I’ve been going to basketball games at the Corn Palace since I was 4 years old,” said Sabers, who will relinquish his duties at Lakeview. Sabers is looking forward to taking on the responsibility, especially considering the multimillion dollar renovation currently underway at the Corn Palace. Sabers said he does not plan to make any major changes immediately upon taking over the position, but instead plans to work with the mayor and city administrator to develop plans for the city-owned facility. Sabers will replace former Corn Palace Director Mark Schilling, who resigned in March. Schilling was asked to resign after a state audit of the Corn Palace’s finances found he routinely counted money from the cash registers alone in his office, failed to keep and maintain proper financial records, and misused a city credit card on multiple occasions. Sabers is not the first candidate selected by Tracy to fill the position at the Corn Palace. Steve Koch, a 50-year-old Mitchell resident, was chosen in October but withdrew his name fewer than two days after his selection was announced. The same day Koch withdrew his name, The Daily Republic found Koch once faced multiple felony charges for misappropriating funds while working for his family’s business. Tracy said the city considered both old and new applicants, and conducted entirely new interviews in the most recent search to fill the position. Tracy said Sabers has a “vast wealth of experience” organizing and managing events. “It seemed to me that it was a great fit,” Tracy said. Sabers and Bathke are both expected to start in their new positions in mid-January. Sabers will be paid a salary of $70,000 per year and Bathke will be paid a salary of $75,000 per year. Bathke, who currently works at Innovative Systems in Mitchell, will replace Marilyn Wilson, who worked for the city for more than 35 years. Bathke said it will be difficult to replace Wilson but she looks forward to the challenge. Bathke is the wife of Jeff Bathke, Davison County’s emergency manager/planning and zoning administrator. Bathke already has experience working in the city’s finance office -- she worked as the city’s deputy finance officer from 2001 to 2009. Because of that, Bathke already has working relationships with many of the employees who work in the finance office. “I’m looking forward to working with them once again,” she said.Mitchell Mayor Ken Tracy has chosen a new finance officer for the city and new director for the Corn Palace.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1414024","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"180","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"160"}}]]In a news release Monday, Tracy named Dan Sabers, of Mitchell, the new director of the Corn Palace and Michelle Bathke, of Mitchell, the new finance officer for the city. Both of those appointments by Tracy are subject to the approval of the City Council at a future meeting.If both appointments are approved by the council, the city will have all of the positions at the head of each department filled for the first time since December 2013, when former Public Works Director Tim McGannon retired.Tracy told The Daily Republic on Monday he feels relieved to have all of the positions filled.“It seems like I have spent an inordinate amount of time during this past year interviewing candidates for various positions. I’m pleased that we’ve now completed all those interviews and have a full complement of department heads,” Tracy said. “I’m looking forward to having a full team.”Sabers is currently the clubhouse manager at Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell and was a high school basketball coach in the region for many years. Sabers told The Daily Republic on Monday he was intrigued by the position open at the Corn Palace when he decided to apply.“I’ve been going to basketball games at the Corn Palace since I was 4 years old,” said Sabers, who will relinquish his duties at Lakeview.Sabers is looking forward to taking on the responsibility, especially considering the multimillion dollar renovation currently underway at the Corn Palace. Sabers said he does not plan to make any major changes immediately upon taking over the position, but instead plans to work with the mayor and city administrator to develop plans for the city-owned facility.Sabers will replace former Corn Palace Director Mark Schilling, who resigned in March. Schilling was asked to resign after a state audit of the Corn Palace’s finances found he routinely counted money from the cash registers alone in his office, failed to keep and maintain proper financial records, and misused a city credit card on multiple occasions.Sabers is not the first candidate selected by Tracy to fill the position at the Corn Palace. Steve Koch, a 50-year-old Mitchell resident, was chosen in October but withdrew his name fewer than two days after his selection was announced. The same day Koch withdrew his name, The Daily Republic found Koch once faced multiple felony charges for misappropriating funds while working for his family’s business.Tracy said the city considered both old and new applicants, and conducted entirely new interviews in the most recent search to fill the position. Tracy said Sabers has a “vast wealth of experience” organizing and managing events.“It seemed to me that it was a great fit,” Tracy said.Sabers and Bathke are both expected to start in their new positions in mid-January. Sabers will be paid a salary of $70,000 per year and Bathke will be paid a salary of $75,000 per year.Bathke, who currently works at Innovative Systems in Mitchell, will replace Marilyn Wilson, who worked for the city for more than 35 years. Bathke said it will be difficult to replace Wilson but she looks forward to the challenge. Bathke is the wife of Jeff Bathke, Davison County’s emergency manager/planning and zoning administrator.Bathke already has experience working in the city’s finance office -- she worked as the city’s deputy finance officer from 2001 to 2009. Because of that, Bathke already has working relationships with many of the employees who work in the finance office.“I’m looking forward to working with them once again,” she said.Mitchell Mayor Ken Tracy has chosen a new finance officer for the city and new director for the Corn Palace.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1413988","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"250","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"166"}}]]
In a news release Monday, Tracy named Dan Sabers, of Mitchell, the new director of the Corn Palace and Michelle Bathke, of Mitchell, the new finance officer for the city. Both of those appointments by Tracy are subject to the approval of the City Council at a future meeting.If both appointments are approved by the council, the city will have all of the positions at the head of each department filled for the first time since December 2013, when former Public Works Director Tim McGannon retired.Tracy told The Daily Republic on Monday he feels relieved to have all of the positions filled.“It seems like I have spent an inordinate amount of time during this past year interviewing candidates for various positions. I’m pleased that we’ve now completed all those interviews and have a full complement of department heads,” Tracy said. “I’m looking forward to having a full team.”Sabers is currently the clubhouse manager at Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell and was a high school basketball coach in the region for many years. Sabers told The Daily Republic on Monday he was intrigued by the position open at the Corn Palace when he decided to apply.“I’ve been going to basketball games at the Corn Palace since I was 4 years old,” said Sabers, who will relinquish his duties at Lakeview.Sabers is looking forward to taking on the responsibility, especially considering the multimillion dollar renovation currently underway at the Corn Palace. Sabers said he does not plan to make any major changes immediately upon taking over the position, but instead plans to work with the mayor and city administrator to develop plans for the city-owned facility.Sabers will replace former Corn Palace Director Mark Schilling, who resigned in March. Schilling was asked to resign after a state audit of the Corn Palace’s finances found he routinely counted money from the cash registers alone in his office, failed to keep and maintain proper financial records, and misused a city credit card on multiple occasions.Sabers is not the first candidate selected by Tracy to fill the position at the Corn Palace. Steve Koch, a 50-year-old Mitchell resident, was chosen in October but withdrew his name fewer than two days after his selection was announced. The same day Koch withdrew his name, The Daily Republic found Koch once faced multiple felony charges for misappropriating funds while working for his family’s business.Tracy said the city considered both old and new applicants, and conducted entirely new interviews in the most recent search to fill the position. Tracy said Sabers has a “vast wealth of experience” organizing and managing events.“It seemed to me that it was a great fit,” Tracy said.Sabers and Bathke are both expected to start in their new positions in mid-January. Sabers will be paid a salary of $70,000 per year and Bathke will be paid a salary of $75,000 per year.Bathke, who currently works at Innovative Systems in Mitchell, will replace Marilyn Wilson, who worked for the city for more than 35 years. Bathke said it will be difficult to replace Wilson but she looks forward to the challenge. Bathke is the wife of Jeff Bathke, Davison County’s emergency manager/planning and zoning administrator.Bathke already has experience working in the city’s finance office -- she worked as the city’s deputy finance officer from 2001 to 2009. Because of that, Bathke already has working relationships with many of the employees who work in the finance office.“I’m looking forward to working with them once again,” she said.