Ishpeming offers city manager position to one candidate

ISHPEMING — The search for a new Ishpeming city manager may be coming to an end.

In a special meeting held earlier today, the Ishpeming city council voted to offer the position to Fred Ventresco, who in the city’s eyes, fits all of their qualifications.

“Well I like the fact that he had all the education that was needed,” said Karl Lehmann, mayor of Ishpeming. “He had 12-plus years of experience, he had handled most of the types of issues that the city of Ishpeming is going to encounter successfully, he’s a good grant writer, and as I had said before, he checked all of the boxes.”

Ventresco was one of four original candidates interviewed after longtime city manager Mark Slown retired in June.

The search for the right candidate narrowed down when the city council flew Ventresco out from Massachusetts, to give a tour of the city.

Ventresco will be earning an $80,000 salary, should he accept the position, as well as health and life insurance, plus holiday incentives.

Ventresco has spent the past 12 years in smaller cities and municipalities mainly on the east coast, performing similar duties that the current offered position will require.

Ventresco has been offered two other jobs, so ABC 10 will update this story as updates occur.