Councilman Outlines Plan For City Manager Search

Olivette City Councilman Jean Antoine says Mike McDowell has served the city well in his time as city manager and will be missed.

McDowell told council members Tuesday he would be leaving the city to take the city administrator's position in Wentzville.

The St. Charles County community announced the move on Friday, with a council vote there this week to approve the contract.

But according to Antoine, the wheels are already in motion to decide what will happen next in Olivette.

In an email interview over the weekend, Antoine said, "we have a defined process already under review by the council," which he suspected would be put into place in a few weeks.

He described the process:

• An interim appointee  
• A review of duties
• Analysis of open task, including key contacts and time lines
• Engaging the services of East-West Gateway and UMSL for their assistance

Antoine said council members would discuss "additional characteristics that would benefit the city and those to avoid."

McDowell told Patch Friday that he expected to work for Olivette through the end of February but that an exact end date had not been established.