Crookston City Administrator Amy Finch has officially been named the new City Manager for the City of Atchison located in Kansas. Her contract with the City of Atchison was approved at their February 7 City Commission meeting, and she will begin her duties in the role on April 4 this spring. Finch’s contract as the City Administrator for Crookston calls for a 45-day notice, which she has turned in, making her last day on the job for the City of Crookston March 25. Finch began her role of City Administrator for Crookston in the fall of 2020 and has helped the City of Crookston take steps forward in the past year.
Finch talked about a few of the factors that played into the decision. “It is in a unique location to where my family is, and it also is where I think my son will be attending college next year,” said Finch. “Those were certainly contributing factors. I was interested in this job because of the uniqueness of the community. Atchison has had a lot of momentum in the last couple of years, and their downtown initiatives have been very successful, so that was enticing to me as well.”
Finch believes her job as City Administrator in Crookston will help prepare her for the new role come April. “In this position, I have faced a few things I never would’ve anticipated,” said Finch. “I am grateful for some of the lessons I’ve learned in this chapter in my life, and it has shaped me in ways I never could’ve predicted. It also teaches you how to handle different situations while staying calm and focused.”
Finch helped accomplish a lot in her time in Crookston and said she is proud of her and her team for getting over hurdles to achieve their goals. “We all know we’ve gone through a lot in the past seven-eight months,” said Finch. “In those times, I am most proud of our staff and elected officials to move through those challenging times and get the job done. Everything was completed in a way that was respectful to the process. I’m also incredibly proud of the department team the city has and how that team has come together and helped each other grow. We have made some changes that will benefit the city moving forward. The people we have in place right now are the right team.”
Finch noted that even though she will have her new position in April, her job as City Administrator is far from over, and she will continue to work and help the city through the transition. “The job doesn’t end because one person is leaving and coming on,” said Finch. “It’s all of our responsibility to keep the ball rolling and keep working towards the goals we have in place and how to accomplish those goals.”
Finch said she will miss the people of Crookston, and she is happy with her time spent in Minnesota. “I have built some strong and important personal and professional relationships here,” said Finch. “Many of those will continue, and that has probably been the best part of being here. All of those relationships have been important to me, and I hope I can continue to have those even after leaving here.”
Her resignation will be before the City Council at their meeting on Monday, February 14, and the search for a new City Administrator will begin. For the Atchison Globe release on Finch’s hiring, you can follow the link below –
