Perrysburg council appoints two leading officials

Bridgette Kabat, right, is confirmed as the new Perrysburg City Council city administrator. Her husband Jim Kabat, left, sits nearby. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Buy This Photo

Perrysburg City Council unanimously approved the appointment of the new city administrator Bridgette Kabat during a meeting this evening.

Ms. Kabat, who is believed to be the city's first female administrator, will join a male-dominated board. Council member Maria Ermie is the only other woman who serves on city council or city administration.

"Congratulations," said Mayor Nelson Evans, who appointed her, after officials clapped during the meeting.

Ms. Kabat, the chief of staff to the Lucas County Board of Commissioners, will start full-time July 23. She will get paid $98,000 annually. She replaces John Alexander who is retiring at the end of the month.

The council also approved the mayor's appointment of Timothy Warren to oversee the city’s new public utilities department. He will start July 30 get paid $92,500 annually.

Timothy Warren is a financial services specialist at the Toledo engineering firm Arcadis U.S. Inc.

The city created the new administrator position to separate the duties of Public Service Director Jon Eckel.

Mr. Warren will be in charge of handling an upcoming water-rates study, a wastewater treatment plant expansion, and be on top changing government regulations. Mr. Eckel will administer the remaining engineering, streets and buildings, and land sanitation divisions in the public service department.

The mayor also named Bridgette Kabat, the chief of staff to the Lucas County Board of Commissioners, as the city’s next city administrator.

Administrator John Alexander is retiring after seven years on the job.

The third open administrator position was filled last month after planning and zoning administrator Thomas King replaced Rick Thielen, who resigned in November.

Contact Gabrielle Russon at grusson@theblade.com, 419-351-0361, or on Twitter @GabrielleRusson.