Top city post filled
A new city administrator for Tonganoxie will begin work in fewer than three weeks.
Shane Krull, 36, who has experience in Rose Hill and Osawatomie, will begin work on Jan. 7. He was hired on Tuesday by Mayor John Franiuk, with approval of city council members.
Krull, who currently lives in Lawrence, will make $50,000 annually. Other benefits include two weeks of vacation and a $250 monthly automobile allowance. The city will offer him a three-year contract, with a clause that requires 30-days notice given by either side to break the contract.
“We’ve asked that he seek residency in the city of Tonganoxie within nine months of his start date,” said Mayor John Franiuk.
Krull, who holds a master’s degree in public administration from Kansas State University and a bachelor’s degree in technology from Pittsburg State University, said he’s eager to begin work in Tonganoxie.
“I’m looking forward to establishing a good, positive rapport with the city staff and the residents of Tonganoxie,” he said.
The city faces issues associated with growth: the availability of water and sewage treatment.
“I think in talking with the council, there was a desire to keep the small town atmosphere and the feel of how Tonganoxie exists today,” Krull said. “You can tell there’s a commitment to keeping a vibrant downtown, along with the other business activities that are springing up along the highway corridor.”
He said the city closely parallels Rose Hill, a city near Wichita of about 3,500 residents.
“It’s situated near a metropolitan area,” he said. “It was facing some of the same issues.”
Krull spent nearly two years in Rose Hill before taking the city manager’s job in Osawatomie, his hometown. His tenure there was only about five months.
“It was basically a combination of personnel issues and a lack of consensus on a sense of direction from the council,” Krull said.
He left city government, and began work as construction superintendent for Gibraltar Homes, an Overland Park company. He left there after 14 months.
“That was a slowdown in their business,” he said. “They restructured themselves.”
Krull wanted to return to public administration and applied for the city administrator’s job in Tonganoxie.
Franiuk said Krull’s hiring was good news for the city.
“Council is comfortable with Mr. Krull, and I think he’ll make a good administrator for us,” the mayor said. “He’s a good listener. He gave very thoughtful and well-spoken answers to the questions asked of him. He’s got enough experience that he can be the take-charge guy and he can take on that leadership role for the city.”
The city administrator’s post has been vacant since mid-November, when Chris Clark left the city to return to Massachusetts.
Krull said he and his wife, Amy, a nurse at Shawnee Mission Medical Center, want to raise their three daughters in a small community. In addition, many of their relatives are in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
“It’s a good fit from a professional standpoint,” Krull said. “It’s a good fit, and good timing.”
The Krulls have three daughters, Madison, 5, who is in kindergarten, Abigail, 3, and Kathleen, 2.