Surprise, AZ News blog

Meeting Saturday, May 31, the council interviewed several prospects for the position in executive session. Convening in a public meeting Saturday afternoon, council authorized the City Attorney to enter into negotiations with Oliver.

If negotiations are successfully concluded, the council will vote on a proposed employment contract at an upcoming meeting.

Oliver has most recently served as the City Manager of Peoria, Illinois, where he oversaw a 30% increase in the city’s general fund, an improvement in Peoria’s financial rating and the expansion of the University of Illinois Medical School at Peoria.

From 1999 to 2003 he served as City Manager of Greenville, South Carolina, where he negotiated the largest annexation in Greenville’s history.

From 1996 to 1999 he was Chief Executive Officer responsible for consolidating the City of Augusta, Georgia and Richmond County into the Augusta-Richmond County Consolidated Government.

Oliver holds a Masters Degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration. He is a registered Professional Engineer and a Certified Public Accountant.

Prospects for the City Manager position were recruited by CPS, an executive search firm based in Sacramento, California.

Surprise City Manager Jim Rumpeltes retired at the end of February. Prisila Ferreira was named Interim City Manager at that time.