Thursday was Ron Fehr Day in Manhattan. The long-time city manager was recognized for his four-decade career with the city, including the last 24 as the city’s top administrator.
Several of Fehr’s colleagues, as well as family and friends, gathered Thursday at a public retirement reception, including former Manhattan mayor and commissioner Bruce Snead.
Fehr is one of the leaders in the community who helped secure the $1.4 billion investment to bring the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility to Manhattan. NBAF Deputy Director Tim Barr…
For close to two decades, Fehr and former Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lyle Butler worked to grow economic development investments in the city. Butler has credited Fehr for his strong listening skills, but recalled a time when the pair and former city attorney Bill Frost disagreed over the timetable to complete downtown redevelopment.
The woman beside Ron Fehr’s through all the ups and downs has been his wife, Renee.
Fehr himself got emotional at Thursday’s reception, saying he will spend more time with his family during retirement.
Deputy City Manager Jason Hilgers will serve as interim city manager until the city commission hires a successor. The commission hopes to have someone in place by this fall.
