New Perrysburg administrator faces plenty of challenges

Bridgette Kabat, chief of staff for the Lucas County commissioners, is taking over as city administrator for Perrysburg. THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH Enlarge | Buy This Photo

Bridgette Kabat lives in Maumee, so she’s familiar with the high school rival city of Perrysburg.

But in her first week as as Perrysburg’s new city administrator, she has toured the city buildings and parks she didn’t know even existed.

“I never realized there were so many green spaces in the city of Perrysburg,” she said.

It’s been a series of meetings and tours – remembering names and learning how the city operates – since Ms. Kabat, a veteran of Lucas County government, took over her new job last Monday.

“It has been a whirlwind,” Ms. Kabat said last week during a rare break from her busy schedule. “Never a dull moment.”

Ms. Kabat took over the city’s top non-elected position from John Alexander, who retired Friday after seven years.

The change in leadership comes as the city is creating its own transportation system to replace TARTA, preparing for the 2013 budget process, and developing a riverfront trail along the Maumee River.

Another main issues for the city is its growing population as the city plans to build a pair of water towers and study its police and fire staff to see if more positions need to be added in the future.

“I’m diving into some pretty serious topics,” said Ms. Kabat, who was the Lucas County Board of Commissioners’ chief of staff and assistant administrator since July, 2005.

As city administrator, her annual pay is $98,000 and she will oversee 150 city employees.

For her city orientation, she plans to go on ride-alongs with the Perryburg Police Department and get a sense of what each shift is like.

She also plans to meet with Perrysburg city council members individually to learn more about their goals and passions. Ms. Kabat joked she is learning the proper way to address the council – whether she should call them councilman, councilwoman, or council member.

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