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BUCHANAN — Buchanan City Commissioners will interview four people including two area residents on Friday, Nov. 22 as they search for a new manager. A possible second round of interviews is set for Monday, Nov. 25 and commissioners have the goal of having someone on the job by the first of the year.

     A total of 51 candidates applied for the position earlier this month. City Commissioners reviewed the candidates Tuesday and selected five to interview. One of those selected has since taken a different job.

     The interview schedule for Friday, Nov. 22 calls for Caro, Mich. city manager Scott Czasak to be interviewed at 10 a.m., Independence Township, Mich. Parks, Recreation and Seniors Director Adam Kline at 11 a.m., Berrien County Election Administrator Kathryn Klemesrud at 1 p.m. and Abonmarche Vice-President Tony McGhee at 2 p.m.

     Czasak has been the city manager in Caro since 2022 and was the executive director of the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority from 2020-22. He also has experience with a consulting firm, with the Ford River, Mich. planning commission and as a Congressional legislative assistant.

     Kline has been the parks, recreation and seniors director for Independence Charter Township for the last year and previously was the Oakland Charter Township manager from 2019-23, the chief of police for Lansing Township from 2016-19 and with the White Lake Township police department from 1987, the last two years as chief.

     Klemesrud has been the Berrien County Elections Administrator since last October and drafted early voting agreements with municipalities. She is also a managing partner of the Taylor Klemesrud law firm in St. Joseph since 2011, working in real estate, commercial contracts and support for American Electric Power.

     McGhee has been the vice-president of development services at Abonmarche since 2010. He was owner of the Water Street Group in Benton Harbor from 2009-11 and was vice president of physical and business development for Cornerstone Alliance from 2004-09. He served with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation from 1998-2004.

     The city manager search is being conducted by former St. Joseph City Manager Frank Walsh. Walsh has conducted two other city manager searches for the city over the years, one that resulted in the hiring of Meg Mullendore more than a decade ago and one that resulted in the hiring of Ben Eldridge last year.

     Eldridge’s tenure ended up being a short one of less than six months. Current City Manager Tim Lynch served as the interim manager before Eldridge and came back after Eldridge resigned last November. Lynch told commissioners last month that he planned to retire at the end of the year.