By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Cassopolis Vigilant
CASSOPOLIS – Three men returned to Cassopolis Saturday morning for a second interview for the position of village manager.
The council hopes to hold a special meeting, come to an agreement and select a candidate at Monday's regular meeting, the night before the election which might change the face of the village council, according to Village President Michelle Andrews.
George Strand, one and a half years at Battle Creek, has had many years of experience, also in Oswego, seven years and Lapeer, 12. He told the council of his successes including "something unheard of, locking in health insurance for five years."
Strand, a Lawton High School graduate, graduated from Western Michigan University. He has two children.
Thomas Gromek of Livonia, is single and is graduating from Wayne State University with a masters and looking for his first position as a manager. In preparation for the second interview, he spoke to both the Niles and Dowagiac managers for background on the communities.
He was excited about the potential growth in Cassopolis, especially in the industrial park.
Gromek has had two internships, in Grosse Pointe Woods and Northville.
The last to be interviewed, Gary Cary, of Grandville, also has experience, both as a manager and in the private sector as a project manager.
He would work on a marketing plan and look at the communities strengths and weaknesses. He said he is in favor of cross training all the employees.
He and his wife Joyce, who came with him Saturday, have two sons and three granchildren.