In 24 years at the helm of city administration, Ron Fehr has seen Manhattan transform into a regional hub for commerce, tourism and research and innovation.
All this week on News Radio KMAN, we’ll be hearing from those who saw firsthand Fehr’s leadership guiding the city to bring in major economic development to Manhattan, including the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility, expansion of the Manhattan Regional Airport, redevelopment of downtown and Aggieville and flood mitigation efforts.
Former Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lyle Butler says Fehr has always understood the importance of partnerships and continually educated new commissioners on the vision and mission of the city.
Current Chamber President and CEO Jason Smith says Fehr’s pro-economic development attitude is what drew him to take the Chamber job in 2019.
Smith is complimentary of Fehr’s ability to maintain direction, despite continuous changeover in city government.
Butler likens the job of city manager to that of a football coach, with the 55,000 residents of Manhattan often critical and sometimes supportive of certain moves to improve Manhattan.
Both Butler and Smith credited Fehr’s leadership in helping Manhattan land the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility, a $1.2 billion economic investment as well as partnerships to bring jet service to the airport and downtown and north campus corridor redevelopment projects. Butler says many of the quality of life improvements have also been crucial.
Fehr’s last day on the job will be Thursday. All this week, KMAN will hear from other city leaders, commissioners and colleagues who worked alongside Fehr during his 24 years as city manager and four decades as a city employee, as part of our continuing news series.
A retirement reception will take place at 3 p.m. Thursday at City Hall.
