The three candidates for the Ouray city administrator job made their pitches Thursday and today for why they should be hired to fill the city’s top job.

Daric Harvey, Michelle Metteer and Michael Reese met informally with roughly 50 residents for more than two hours Thursday night at the Ouray Community Center, then formally interviewed this morning with two different panels.

The three finalists started Thursday night’s meet-and-greet by introducing themselves to residents and taking a few minutes each to discuss their professional backgrounds and accomplishments and why they applied for the job.

Harvey, who has spent 28 years in various law enforcement and public safety positions in Florida and Colorado, most recently served on the Colorado State Board of Parole from 2020 to 2023. Prior to that, he was the police chief in Cañon City from 2017 to 2020 and a commander with the Vail Police Department from 2012 to 2017.

Metteer is currently the town administrator in Minturn in Eagle County, a position she’s held since 2018. She previously served as the town’s economic development director, special events coordinator and deputy town clerk.

Reese was most recently the city manager in Maplewood, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, a position he held for two years before resigning last year. Prior to that he spent 22 years in Columbus, Ohio, working most of that time in a variety of roles in city government.

Harvey suggested the skills he’s acquired in law enforcement over the years would translate well as a city administrator.

Daric Harvey visits with members of the public Thursday night during the reception for the finalists. Erin McIntyre – Ouray County Plaindealer

In Cañon City, he said he helped develop a statewide strategic plan to improve behavioral health treatment. When he was a commander in Vail, he said he helped lead revisions to the town’s special event planning and approval process.

“I’m the guy who will raise my hand and say, ‘Yes, I’ll help. What do you need?’” he said.

Harvey said he’s been involved in hiring, recruiting and retaining police officers in the past, an effort he said he would continue on a broader municipal level focused on finding and building a team of skilled, happy city employees. He said he views the city administrator job in Ouray as an opportunity to help the community in a way that’s different from law enforcement.

Metteer, who has spent a total of 15 years in municipal government work, highlighted capital improvement projects in Minturn such as a sidewalk replacement program and an upcoming bridge replacement. She pointed to the construction of a bike park in Minturn that proved to be so popular that it recently began hosting a national competition that served as an economic boon for the town.

Michelle Metteer addresses the crowd during the reception for city administrator finalists Thursday night at the Ouray Community Center. Erin McIntyre – Ouray County Plaindealer

She said she has also focused on increasing government transparency, noting that residents can access meeting videos, ordinances and other government documents online.

“Trust is the foundation for all community building,” she said.

Reese possesses the most municipal government experience of the three candidates, spending 22 of the last 27 years working for municipal governments. In Columbus, where he worked his way up from legislative analyst for the city council to chief of staff for the mayor, he said he helped shepherd budgets through two economic downturns. In Maplewood, he managed a $28 million annual budget.

Michael Reese introduces himself to the crowd during the reception Thursday night for the city administrator finalists. Erin McIntyre – Ouray County Plaindealer

During his time there, he said, the city’s municipal bond rating — a grade assigned to a bond issued by a local government that determines the risk and interest cost of the investment — improved from “outlook negative” to “outlook stable.”

Reese also noted that Maplewood had interim police and fire chiefs when he arrived, and he said he led a reform of the police department there. Ouray, likewise, currently has an interim police chief.

He said if he’s hired in Ouray he has a six-month plan to build relationships with the council, staff and community.

Most of Thursday night’s event was dedicated to finalists and citizens visiting one-on-one or in small groups. Residents had the chance to fill out comment cards and offer anonymous feedback on the candidates.

Harvey, Metteer and Reese then spent this morning interviewing with two panels — one consisting of city councilors and the other consisting of community leaders and other city managers in the region.

City councilors then met in executive session at 1 p.m. to discuss and review feedback from the public and the interview panelists.

It’s unknown when the council will select a new city administrator. Under state law, councilors can’t announce a hire until Nov. 22 at the earliest.

The new city administrator will replace Silas Clarke, who resigned in September after nearly four years on the job.