Long-time City Hall staffer named interim city manager to replace Troy Schulte
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has appointed a long-time City Hall employee and assistant city manager to replace Troy Schulte while officials hunt for a permanent successor.
Lucas announced in a statement Monday that Earnest Rouse, an assistant city manager and director of general services, will serve as interim city manager effective immediately. Monday was Schulte’s final day on the job.
Rouse, 59, has worked at City Hall since 1988 as a budget analyst, financial manager, administrative officer and assistant city manager. He assumed his current post in 2011.
According to the statement, Rouse would be the third black city manager — acting or permanent — in the city’s history.
“I’m humbled to be able to serve Kansas City in this new capacity,” Rouse said in the statement. “I look forward to working closely with Mayor Lucas, the City Council, and my city colleagues to continue improving the city’s basic services.”
Lucas said that Rouse “understands fiscal responsibility, our core mission to deliver basic services for our residents, and is known throughout the organization as a strong, experienced mentor, leader and supervisor.”
“Mr. Rouse – who has served the past 30 years in a variety of roles and departments within the Kansas City government – will bring important perspective to the city manager’s office as we work to make Kansas City a quality, safe, and affordable place to live for all,” Lucas said.
Rouse holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a master’s of public administration from Iowa State University.
While he holds the post, a search committee that includes Lucas, Schulte, Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McManus and Madeleine McDonough, managing partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, will work with a headhunting firm to find a permanent city manager. Rouse’s appointment will have to be ratified by the City Council, which is expected to vote on the issue this week.
Schulte’s future with the city became a source of speculation during and after this spring’s mayoral campaign. He joined the city in 1998 and served in the budget office before becoming interim city manager in 2009 and being named to the permanent job in 2011. His tenure ranks him among the city’s longest-serving managers. When he announced his departure in September, he said 10 years had been long enough.
At the time Schulte announced his retirement, he was expected to step down at the end of his current contract, Feb. 29. But he soon began pursuing a position with Jackson County. He announced last month that he would depart City Hall early.
Last week, the Jackson County Legislature approved Schulte’s employment contract as county administrator. He’ll earn $220,000, which is far more than other high-ranking county employees. County Executive Frank White Jr., who will oversee Schulte, makes nearly $150,000.
As administrator, Schulte is expected to tackle some of the county’s most urgent issues. Those include the reassessment process that has some county residents worried they will lose their homes to higher taxes; reaching a deal to build a new jail, and addressing declining conditions at the courthouse building. In a Facebook Live interview with the Star, Schulte said he does not anticipate the post being a long-term position.
Previously, White had two top deputies: chief administrative officer Ed Stoll and chief operating officer Gary Panthiere, who recently retired. Schulte’s post would supplant both roles and that of another top aide: chief of health services Jaime Masters.
This story was originally published December 2, 2019 at 4:21 PM.
