Gosack not going to Rock Hill; stays busy with Mitsubishi bonds

Fort Smith Deputy City Administrator Ray Gosack was not selected as city manager as Rock Hill, S.C., after being among three finalists selected from 81 applicants.

Gosack told The City Wire he was notified early Wednesday (Sept. 29) morning that the city council selected David Vehaun, the Rock Hill assistant city manager, for the top spot.

“On one hand it’s disappointing not to be selected, but there are still plenty of good things happening in Fort Smith to keep me motivated and challenged,” Gosack said.

One of those recent things challenging Gosack has been the past few weeks of getting about $40 million in industrial revenue bonds ready for market. The bonds, which do not financially obligate the city of Fort Smith, are for the construction of Mitsubishi’s wind turbine assembly plant at Chaffee Crossing.

Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas (MPSA) announced Oct. 16 plans to build a $100 million, 200,000-square foot wind turbine manufacturing plant on 90 acres at Fort Chaffee. Company officials said construction will start in the fourth quarter of 2010 and be complete by the fourth quarter of 2011. Mitsubishi officials expect full production and 400 jobs in place by the first quarter of 2012.

“We have been especially busy yesterday and most of today making sure the bond documents are in order,” Gosack explained.

The bonds are scheduled to go to market tomorrow (Sept. 30), Gosack said.

Gosack, 52, was a top staffer with Fort Smith between 1985-1988. He worked as assistant city manager and in other roles in Homewood, Ill., between 1988 and 1999. He returned to Fort Smith in 1999 as deputy city administrator.

According to this report on the The Herald, Vehaun and Jimmy Bagley, Rock Hill’s utilities chief, were top two choices among the three. The report also notes that Rock Hill’s manager acts as CEO of the city, overseeing more than 700 employees, a $164 million annual budget, an electricity system and water treatment system that sells water to most of York County. The 2009 Census estimate of Rock Hill was 69,210.

Gosack said he his is not now pursuing any other jobs.

“I’ve really been selective in a job search. It will have to be an exceptional community and job opportunity for me to consider it.”