It happened about 23 minutes into the special city commission meeting May 19.
“Mayor, congratulations,” Plant City Mayor Rick Lott said, “You are now the interim city manager of Plant City.”
Former Temple Terrace Mayor Kim Leinbach planned to begin his job as Plant City’s interim city manager Thursday, May 25. Until Wednesday, Leinbach was mayor of Temple Terrace, a position he held since November. Leinbach takes over the position from outgoing City Manager Mike Herr, who will become Winter Haven’s city manager June 12. Herr’s last day with Plant City will be June 2, allowing Leinbach just more than a week to work with Herr during the transition.
According to Casey Cook, executive director of the The Florida City and County Management Association, this is a unique case. A sitting mayor resigning to become an administrator in another city is out of the ordinary, Cook said, but the move makes sense for someone like Leinbach, who has been a professional city manager for his entire career.
“I’ve been in local government and city management for many years, Leinbach said. “It’s been a passion of mine for over 44 years now. I think it’s something you get in your system and never get rid of.”
In his May 18 resignation letter to the city clerk of Temple Terrace, Leinbach cited a “significant family health issue” and the opportunity to pursue his passion for city management as reason for leaving the mayorship.
Prior to serving as mayor of Temple Terrace, Leinbach was its city manager for more than 14 years, holding the position between 1999 and his retirement in 2013.
Despite retiring, Leinbach remained active in city management. He was special assistant to the Hillsborough County administrator from 2013 to 2015, and for five months in 2016, he was Mount Dora’s interim city manager.
According to his resume, Leinbach’s career in city management began in 1971 in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he served as an administrative assistant to the city manager.
In 1979, he became the city manager of Manchester, Iowa. He moved to Florida in the mid-’80s, serving as city manager in cities across the state including Madeira Beach in Pinellas County and Temple Terrace, a sister city to Plant City.
Leinbach will be paid $2,500 per week while serving as city manager. He said he has no intent on pursuing the permanent position. While serving as interim city manager, Leinbach will continue to live with his wife, Connie, in Temple Terrace, he said.
Commissioners voted 5-0 to offer Leinbach the position. All agreed that he was more than qualified to take on the role.
While in Temple Terrace as city manager and mayor, Leinbach said he oversaw economic development projects similar to many — like the midtown redevelopment — underway in Plant City.
“I stand firmer, even than I was before at our last meeting, that you’re the right person for the interim position.”
— City Commissioner Nate Kilton on the selection of Interim City Manager Kim Leinbach
“I look at the midtown redevelopment plan and I think it’s quite similar to what the city of Temple Terrace has been trying to accomplish,” Leinbach said. “I dealt with several developers in that endeavor. I went through some serious negotiations. I think I can bring to the table some of the things we did well and, frankly, some of the things I think we didn’t do so well and should avoid in the future.”
During a May 15 special commission meeting, city commissioners postponed an initial vote on Leinbach, who was the only applicant for the position.
The City Commission had planned on gathering names of potential candidates with help from the Florida League of Cities. However, the League notified Plant City that it would need more than the three days given to deliver applicants. The commission first broached the idea of using the League at a May 8 meeting, but it didn’t not vote on the matter, so the League could not begin a search until it received an official request the afternoon of May 16.
Going into the May 19 meeting, Leinbach was the only candidate.
“Their timetable was a little faster than most,” Cook said. “That’s a decision Plant City made, but it sounds like they hired a good candidate.”
City commissioners are expected to hire a consulting firm to conduct a nationwide search for Plant City’s next permanent city manager. During that time, Leinbach said his job will be to ensure the number of projects Plant City has in motion won’t lose steam.
“I would come in and assume all the efforts and energy of the city and keep it going,” Leinbach said.