Veteran CC official hired as administrator

To find someone to fill the county administrator’s office, Charles City’s supervisors needed only to look a few doors down the hallway in the county’s government building.

Last Wednesday, supervisors hired longtime county public works director John F. “Jack” Miniclier Jr. to take over the county administrator post. Miniclier has been employed with the county since June 1992. His title of public works/utilities director, county engineer, and emergency services coordinator has remained relatively unchanged since he came on board.

Actually, the selection process was more complicated than just picking a familiar face. Miniclier was chosen from a field of 20 applicants. An outside consultant narrowed the field to a final four. Besides the consultant, a committee made up of community members reviewed the applications.

“I’m humbled and proud that the board selected me,” Miniclier said Wednesday night after supervisors announced their choice.

“I think my ability and the learning experience I’ve had interacting with the people here, leading county employees, and working with other elected officials weighed in my favor,” he said.

He plans to improve lines of communication between his office and the public, he said.

“I want to look at making the administration transparent to the citizens and the organizations we deal with,” he said, adding he looks forward to public input.

“I believe in participatory management style,” he said. “We may not always agree, but we’ll understand why decisions are made.”

“During my 15 years here, I’ve kept open lines of communication with the School Board and elected officials and worked with them and tried to support them,” he said.

He also plans to improve relationships with surrounding localities, rebuilding bridges so that Charles City and its neighbors can mutually benefit.

“Our challenges in the next couple of years will be tremendous as growth comes to the county,” he said.

And another daunting task, he noted, will be upcoming budget deliberations for the next fiscal year in light of anticipated revenue cuts by the state.

Miniclier, 60, was born on the Pacific island of Guam, the son of a career officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. Drafted into the military, he completed Officer Candidate School and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Army Corps of Engineers before retiring in 1992. Soon after retiring, he began his career in Charles City.

Miniclier begins his administrator duties today (Dec. 12) at an annual salary of $90,000. He succeeds Angelia Yancey who resigned in July. Jackie Wallace has been serving in an interim capacity since Yancey’s departure.