Portage skips usual bidding process to find Patrick McGinnis’s replacement

The Portage City Council moved quickly Tuesday night to begin searching for a new city manager, bypassing the standard bidding process that typically takes up to a month.

The council approved a contract with Walsh Municipal Services, a Coldwater-based executive headhunting firm, to conduct a national search for the next city administrator. The decision came just days after outgoing city manager Patrick McGinnis confirmed his retirement, effective July 3.

"They liked Walsh's work then, so the council approved a new contract with his Coldwater-based executive headhunting firm last night," according to WKZO reporter Michael Arney.

Why Walsh?

Frank Walsh led the recruitment four years ago when Portage hired McGinnis. The council chose to return to him rather than open a competitive bidding process for the search contract.

Walsh's firm specializes in finding candidates within Michigan. He charges significantly less than national recruiting firms, according to Arney's reporting.

"He says they should have few problems recruiting for Portage," Arney reported.

Timeline for a new manager

Walsh emphasized the urgency of starting early. A statewide City Manager's Conference is scheduled for mid-July, and hiring before the school year begins in fall is important for candidates with families.

If the search proceeds on schedule, the timeline would look like this:

  • Late August: Initial offer extended to a candidate
  • September: Thorough background check completed
  • Fall 2026: New city manager begins work

Council faces extra work this summer

The accelerated timeline means city council members will take on additional duties during months when municipal business typically slows down.

The extra workload begins immediately, according to Arney. Council members will handle responsibilities normally managed by the city manager during the transition period.

McGinnis's eventful tenure

McGinnis's nearly four years in the role covered some of Portage's most challenging recent periods:

  • Guiding the community through the end of the pandemic
  • Managing homeowner opposition to a proposed housing development near Lake Center
  • Overseeing recovery from the tornado that struck Portage two years ago
  • Navigating a voter uprising over the city's move to a single-hauler trash contract

The council is also expected to approve the city's next budget at Tuesday's meeting. The budget takes effect July 1, just two days before McGinnis's final day on the job.

The Portage Zhang Farmers Market also celebrated a milestone Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new $3.25 million permanent structure at 125 East Centre Avenue. The project was funded through a $1 million donation from Charles and Lynn Zhang, $1.75 million from the State of Michigan, and $500,000 from the City of Portage.