DECATUR - Sangamon County Administrator Ryan McCrady is leaving some well-wishers behind as he prepares to become Decatur's city manager.

McCrady, 38, who beat out five other short-list candidates, has confirmed he will leave his $97,000-a-year job to accept the $135,000 position in Decatur on Oct. 20. McCrady will replace Steve Garman, who resigned May 2.

Sangamon County Board member Dave Kamper said McCrady has been a capable county administrator.

"He has always responded promptly to any questions or requests I have," Kamper said. "He is usually fully informed of all the matters that are important to the county at the time."

Kamper said McCrady's experience included working with many groups, including police and other county government agencies. Prior to being named Sangamon County administrator, he was a deputy auditor in the county auditor's office and comptroller for the sheriff's office.

"He has to deal with a lot of independent voices - folks who he doesn't have the authority to order around," Kamper said.

Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter said McCrady always displayed good judgment and a respect for others, even if they were not on the same side of an issue.

"I'd say (Decatur) stole our star quarterback," Van Meter said.

One of the chief concerns expressed by Decatur Mayor Mike Carrigan and the city council in selecting a city manager was to find somebody who could work directly with citizens - something Jim Stone, director of the Sangamon County Department of Public Health, said McCrady is capable of doing.

Stone reflected on the numerous town hall meeting-style presentations he and McCrady gave while addressing citizens regarding the merging of the Sangamon County and Springfield health departments - a project aimed at streamlining the services and lowering the cost of the organization to taxpayers.

"We had a circuit, if you will, holding public meetings with anywhere from 20 people to 60 to 70 people at a time," Stone said. "It was kind of the 'Ryan and Jim Show' for quite some time."

Stone wished McCrady luck and said those he worked with will feel his loss.

"I think they're truly going to understand how much they miss him when he's gone," Stone said.

Carrigan said last week that the council is in the process of finalizing a contract with McCrady and likely will vote on that document late this month or in early October. He said terms of the contract are still being worked out.

John A. Smith was interim manager while the city council conducted the search. Smith has served the city for 29 years and is assistant city manager for public services, overseeing the city's engineering and infrastructure divisions, water production and water management.

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