The Parkville Board of Aldermen has approved its selection for the City’s new city administrator, albeit with three Board members absent.
The hire of Lauren Palmer as city administrator was approved Tuesday evening with a 5-0 vote, without Aldermen Kari Lamer, Jackie Snyder or Marc Sportsman. Mayor Jim Brooks said all three sent their regrets they could not attend the meeting, but that they did support the hire of Palmer.
She will begin work June 3, with an annual base salary of $96,000, plus $1,200 in vehicular expenses. Though unable to attend the meeting Tuesday evening due to her work in Manhattan, Kan. Palmer told The Citizen she felt the City would be a good fit for her.
“The priorities that were outlined by the Mayor and Board in the job description seemed well-aligned with my background and experience,” Palmer said. “I am most looking forward to getting to know local leaders and residents and learning how I can help the community achieve its goals for the future.”
Palmer, a native of Joplin, has served as an assistant city manager for Manhattan, Kan. since January 2008. Prior to her work in Manhattan, she served the City of Des Moines, Iowa as management assistant and management analyst in the city manager’s office from 2004-08.
Already familiar with Parkville, Palmer said she found it a charming place and looks forward to her relocation back to Missouri.
“The historic downtown, with beautiful views of the river and Park University, has a special character that is unique in the Kansas City metro area,” Palmer said. “I feel about the Missouri River the way some people feel about oceans and mountains, so I look forward to spending time in English Landing Park.”