OCP file photo/Hart City Manager Rob Splane
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
HART — Following the announcement of Hart City Manager Rob Splane’s resignation, the city has hired a consulting firm to aid in the search for his replacement.
Splane announced his resignation from the post at the end of May due to health reasons, but he agreed to stay on until a replacement is found. He was hospitalized last April for about a week, and his doctors attributed his health issues to stress. “They all said the same thing — ‘You have to avoid stress.’ I’m in recovery now, and it looks like everything is going to be OK long-term,” he said.
“It was a really tough decision.” With many projects taking shape, it will be hard to leave. “I offered to stay until my successor starts.
“The city council awarded a contract for an executive search firm two weeks ago. The search is in progress with a permanent city manager likely being seated this fall. A search firm kind of holding the council’s hand through the search processes is important.”
Splane was hired as Hart’s city manager four years ago after Lynne Ladner left the position. Ladner was hired in 2018 when long-time Hart City Manager Stan Rickard retired. Splane served as a Hart city councilman and interim city manager prior to accepting the job.
“I was appointed to the city council 11 years ago in June. I don’t know how 11 years went by that fast. While I’ve been the city manager for just over four years, I’ve been with the city for over 11 years. I’m humbled that people allowed me to help shape the city’s future.”
He and his family moved to Hart 14 years ago, and they plan to stay in Hart. “I’m leaving my position with the city, but I’m not leaving the community. I look forward to growing old in Hart.
“I moved here to open West Coast Integration doing audio visual and IT support work. I plan to continue to run West Coast Integration. I never set out to be city manager — I was asked to be city manager. I took the role because I wanted to help the community.”
He plans to stay involved with the community through volunteering to serve on governmental boards. “I feel like if everybody donated a decade of their time to their local community, the world would be a better place. It’s been fun — it’s been a lot of fun.”
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