Bailey to take over permanent post August 1
The Bartlesville City Council voted 5-0 to appoint Mike Bailey as Bartlesville’s new city manager during a meeting held Monday.
Bailey will take over the post effective Aug. 1, following the retirement of current City Manager Ed Gordon.
A Bartlesville native, Bailey began his career with the City of Bartlesville in 2005, when he was hired as an accountant. He was promoted to city clerk in 2006 and named city clerk/treasurer in 2008. In April 2011, he was became the City’s administrative director and chief financial officer.
He began serving as acting city manager when Gordon faced a medical crisis last fall. Mayor Dale Copeland said Monday that many of the issues Bailey has faced as acting city manager “give good insight” into his ability to do the job, noting the successful passage of the 2017 General Obligation Bond and achieving labor peace and securing contracts with the City’s police and fire unions in addition to overseeing the 2018-19 Fiscal Year budget and the Tyler software roll-out.
“The leadership that has been demonstrated gives us some insight into what we might expect going forward,” Copeland said. “We have seen him perform well, and I expect nothing but more of that.”
During the meeting, Gordon called Bailey his “strong right arm” and commended the council on its decision.
“That I’ve not needed to be here has been well served by Mr. Bailey,” Gordon said. “What you did here tonight proves that. The wisdom of you five City councilmen to appoint him — if I may be the first to thank you.”
Bailey, who sat in the audience for the duration of the meeting until being called to the podium by Gordon, offered his “sincerest thanks” to the council and said he was “humbled and honored” by the appointment.