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City Manager Going To Kansas, Mayor Says

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Scott Miller is headed back north.

New Port Richey's city manager has reportedly accepted a job as administrator of Leavenworth, Kan., a city of about 35,000 on the banks of the Missouri River, Mayor Dan Tipton said.

"He made up his mind that he's going to leave," Tipton said late Monday. "I'm not happy about it, because we have so much going on with projects in the city right now to be without a manager."

Tipton said Miller's shoes will be hard to fill.

"He's been great for the city and will be missed," the mayor said. "He'll be hard to replace."

The mayor said Miller has informed city council members in writing about accepting the Leavenworth position. Miller could not be reached for comment Monday night.

His contract with the city requires him to give at least 30 days notice before leaving. Tipton said his last day will be Dec. 14.

Miller, 57, took the reins of New Port Richey in November 2004, replacing 16-year manager Gerald Seeber. Before that, Miller was the city manager of College Park, Ga., for about nine years, and had worked in Boynton Beach, Oakland Park and Wilton Manors.

He has been credited by many with breathing life into the city's redevelopment efforts with strategies for downtown revitalization and by aggressively pursuing annexation of county land to boost the tax base. Under his leadership, New Port Richey has cracked down on chronic code enforcement violators to improve the city's image.

Still, others have criticized his management style and some of the expenditures he has recommended, notably the purchase of First Church of Christ Scientist for $1.05 million.

Regardless, Miller has received high marks in his annual reviews by city council members and has seen his compensation rise from $100,000 to $109,725 a year.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

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