01/09/2025
Quote from a Sturgis Citizen “I have questions but it seems I can't ask because Aaron is a nice, good hometown guy, which he absolutely is! He is a very kind man. But I can't help but feel it's the same good old boys club but just different boys?”
Yep, obviously, this plan put in place months ago by Forrester and Jordan when Jordan didn’t seek re-election.
3 months until the next election.
Former councilman Jordan
to be appointed Sturgis’
first City Administrator
Sturgis Mayor Kevin Forrester has announced plans to appoint Aaron Jordan as the city's first City Administrator at the Thursday, Jan. 9, meeting of the Sturgis City Council.
In April 2024, Sturgis voters approved a new form of government granting the mayor authority to appoint a City Administrator, subject to approval by the City Council.
Ten applicants applied for the position of Sturgis City Administrator. On Dec. 18, the five most qualified candidates selected by the mayor and city councilors participated in preliminary interviews via Zoom.
The interviews were attended by Forrester, Councilor Ruth Kopp, Councilor Jim Thompson, and the mayor’s administrative team members Rick Bush, and Geody Van Dewater.
Forrester said each candidate was asked the same set of questions. Recordings of the five interviews were distributed to all council members for review and consideration. Council members were then asked to identify their top two candidates.
After review, Jordan was consistently favored among the council members as the preferred candidate.
"One individual emerged as the clear and consistent choice - Aaron Jordan," Forrester said. Initially, a further round of interviews had been planned; however, the mayor decided an immediate appointment would best meet the city’s needs.
Jordan has been actively involved in the Sturgis community through local organizations for 25 years and recently served a three-year term on the Sturgis City Council.
“Beyond being highly qualified, Mr. Jordan is available to begin his duties as City Administrator on January 13,” Forrester said. “His deep familiarity with the City of Sturgis — its operations, departments, leadership, and overall community — ensures he can make an immediate impact.
Additionally, the city will not incur relocation costs, and Jordan has agreed to accept the position without a long-term contract or severance clause — benefits that would likely be impossible to secure with another candidate, Forrester said.
“I am confident that Mr. Jordan’s extensive administrative and leadership experience will enable him to immediately and effectively lead the City of Sturgis’s administrative functions, while continuing the positive momentum this council has built,” Forrester said.
(MCTH Note: Jordan retired from the SD National Guard where he rose to the rank of colonel. He has extensive skill sets necessary for a city administrator such as finance, logistics, management and planning. He was a popular councilman and his name was proposed by many as a mayoral candidate when there were vacancies. He elected not to seek re-election to the council last year due to a prior civilian contract with the military which involved overseas duty.)
Former councilman Jordan
to be appointed Sturgis’
first city administrator
Sturgis Mayor Kevin Forrester has announced plans to appoint Aaron Jordan as the Sturgis' first city administrator at the Thursday, Jan. 9, meeting of the Sturgis City Council.
In April 2024, Sturgis voters approved a new form of government granting the mayor authority to appoint a city administrator, subject to approval by the city council.
Ten applicants applied for the position of Sturgis City Administrator.
On Dec. 18, the five most qualified candidates selected by the mayor and city councilors participated in preliminary interviews via Zoom.
The interviews were attended by Forrester, councilmembers Ruth Kopp and Jim Thompson, and the mayor’s administrative team members Rick Bush, and Geody Van Dewater.
Forrester said each candidate was asked the same set of questions.
Recordings of the five interviews were distributed to all council members for review and consideration. Council members were then asked to identify their top two candidates.
After review, Jordan was consistently favored among the council members as the preferred candidate.
"One individual emerged as the clear and consistent choice - Aaron Jordan," Forrester said. Initially, a further round of interviews had been planned; however, the mayor decided an immediate appointment would best meet the city’s needs.
Jordan has been actively involved in the Sturgis community through local organizations for 25 years and recently served a three-year term on the Sturgis City Council.
“Beyond being highly qualified, Mr. Jordan is available to begin his duties as city administrator on Jan. 13,” Forrester said. “His deep familiarity with the City of Sturgis — its operations, departments, leadership, and overall community — ensures he can make an immediate impact."
Additionally, the city will not incur relocation costs, and Jordan has agreed to accept the position without a long-term contract or severance clause — benefits that would likely be impossible to secure with another candidate, Forrester said.
“I am confident that Mr. Jordan’s extensive administrative and leadership experience will enable him to immediately and effectively lead the City of Sturgis’s administrative functions, while continuing the positive momentum this council has built,” Forrester said.
(MCTH Note: Jordan retired from the SD National Guard where he rose to the rank of colonel. He has extensive skill sets necessary for a city administrator such as finance, logistics, management and planning. He was a popular councilman and his name was proposed by many as a mayoral candidate when there were vacancies. He elected not to seek re-election to the council last year due to a prior civilian contract with the military which involved overseas duty.)
We as Sturgis SD Citizens have the right to petition our City Government if we do not agree with the direction our City is headed and seek change.
