Vandalia City Council appointed Dan Wendt to serve as City Manager effective February 1, 2021. City Manager Wendt is the chief executive officer and public safety director, responsible for the day-to-day operations of a complex municipal organization serving a residential population of 15,000 across 12.39 square miles. The City organization retains a robust bond rating of Aa2, annual all funds budget of approximately $57 million, $37 million 5-year capital improvement plan, hundreds of millions of dollars of assets, and full-time workforce of 275 full-time equivalent employees. Mr. Wendt’s leadership team executes the policy directives of the Vandalia City Council including the day-to-day operations of police, fire, emergency medical services, and dispatch; treatment of water and wastewater; maintenance of 87 miles of water mains, 74 miles of sanitary sewers, and 78 miles of storm sewers; public works and street construction; economic development, building and zoning, planning, and engineering services; administration of four collective bargaining agreements with three labor unions; and community enrichment through the Vandalia Recreation Center, Senior Center, Cassel Hills Golf Course, and numerous parks. As the City’s chief executive, Mr. Wendt ensures that all laws and ordinances are enforced, he appoints and removes all directors and subordinate employees in the classified and unclassified service, exercises control over all administrative departments and divisions, and advises Council as to the financial condition and needs of the City.
Mr. Wendt regards public service as a privilege. He encourages a positive and high-energy work environment with a focus on multi-disciplinary collaboration and continuous learning on the part of public servants. He seeks to enhance Vandalia's livability while heightening the reputation of the Dayton Metropolitan Area and building upon a strong tradition of professional local government management.
Wendt formerly served as the Assistant City Manager, the chief operating officer role, at the City of Fairfield (population 42,000). There he played a central role in developing the city’s $93 million annual operating and capital budgets, oversaw City operations, and directly managed human resources, information technology, safety, and communications efforts.
Prior to his time at Fairfield, Mr. Wendt served in a similar role as Director of Public Safety and Service at the City of Norwalk (population 17,000), county seat of Huron County. There, he oversaw municipal government operations and supervised the affairs of the Police, Fire, Sanitation and Parks and Recreation Departments.
Fluent in Spanish, City Manager Wendt served three years in the United States Peace Corps administering community and economic development initiatives in the Dominican Republic and, in his early career, served as project manager with an information technology firm near Columbus. Mr. Wendt holds a Master of Public Administration from Bowling Green State University and a Bachelor of Arts from Ohio State University.
Mr. Wendt is active in the Rotary Club of Vandalia where he participates on the International Service Committee. He is a graduate of the International City/County Management Association’s (ICMA) Emerging Leaders Development Program and is a Certified Labor Relations Professional through the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association. He serves as a committee chair in the Ohio City / County Management Association; is an appointed member of the Montgomery County Economic Development / Government Equity committee; and is a board member on the Vandalia Butler Chamber of Commerce, Tri-Cities North Regional Wastewater Authority, Northern Area Water Authority, and CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show.
Outside of his work and community service, Mr. Wendt enjoys playing with his children, hunting, fishing, and home improvement projects. He, his wife, Laura and three children are residents of Vandalia.