Huether Making Staff Changes In Mayor's Office

Mayor Mike Huether wants to add a new position in his office: communications specialist.

The Mayor says the position is needed to communicate with city staff and the public.  He adds that he is restructuring his office so he will not be increasing the number of full-time employees working for him.  But how is it different from the Chief of Staff position he eliminated just days after entering office?

Mayor Huether says he wants a person that can effectively communicate with the citizens and city staff about city accomplishments, events and services.  He also said he wants someone who will keep up with technology and work with social media for the city. 

Huether says he's been working with long-time executive assistant and scheduler Vicki Skuya since August on finding a new position in city government to make way for the new communications specialist.  If a new job isn't found by January 11, she will be leaving city government.

Huether adds that this person is different than Jodi Schwan's Chief of Staff position he eliminated because their primary duties are to work with the public and the media.

Coming up later today on KELOLAND News, we'll hear more from the mayor on why the new position is needed, why he is looking to hire someone now and didn't hire them when he first entered office.