Chattanooga City Council to vote on two key appointments

The Chattanooga City Council on Jan. 11 will vote on the confirmation of Scott Martin as administrator of the city's department of parks and outdoors
The Chattanooga City Council on Jan. 11 will vote on the confirmation of Scott Martin as administrator of the city's department of parks and outdoors

The Chattanooga City Council will vote soon on whether to confirm two key appointments to Mayor Tim Kelly's administration.

Council members on Jan. 11 are expected to vote on the confirmation of Dan Reuter as administrator of the city's Department of City Planning and Scott Martin as administrator of the city's Department of Parks and Outdoors.

The council's approval is required before any department head appointed by the mayor is finalized.

"We're excited to get city administrators in place," said Mary Beth Ikard, the mayor's spokesperson.

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Reuter and Martin were selected after a nationwide search, Ikard said. Both positions are important, she noted.

photo The Chattanooga City Council on Jan. 11 will vote on the confirmation of Dan Reuter as the administrator of the city's department of city planning.

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Reuter has worked in the fields of planning, transportation and development for 30 years. He is president of RSI Strategy LLC, a Georgia-based planning and economic firm.

Reuter also serves on the American Planning Association Legislative and Policy Committee.

"I really like the opportunity of being involved in planning in Chattanooga," he said in an interview. "That's really what's driving me. I love city planning and working with local governments and the community."

Martin serves as executive director of the River Heritage Conservancy Inc. in Indiana, a nonprofit that builds and maintains parks in urban areas.

He is also the North American co-chair and executive board member for World Urban Parks, a position that has allowed him to present research in the U.S. and a number of foreign countries.

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In an interview, Martin called Chattanooga "the equivalent to an NFL franchise" in his line of work.

"It all starts with leadership," Martin said. "In this era where everything is red and blue, where everything is split up, Chattanooga is one of those rare communities where everyone is behind it."

Reuter's annual salary would be $132,777. Martin's annual salary would be $140,280.

Contact Logan Hullinger at lhullinger@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @LoganHullinger.

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