The City of Harrisonville is excited to announce the hiring of Brad Ratliff as City Administrator.
The decision to hire Ratliff was made following a unanimous vote during an Executive Session meeting of the Harrisonville Board of Aldermen on December 16.
Ratliff brings with him 23 years of local-government experience, with 12 of those years coming in a City Administrator role. He values relationships and holds strong county ties, as he has served as the City Administrator for the City of Peculiar since 2007. Brad holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State and a Master’s degree in Management from Friends University.
“The City of Harrisonville has many great opportunities and I feel my experience and skills can maximize those opportunities. The airport, the interstate and the rail assets make Harrisonville a prime opportunity for Economic Development, capable of surpassing any city in Cass County. The Square brings such a wonderful opportunity for not only walkability retail, but also for preserving the culture of the community,” Ratliff said.
During his time in Peculiar, Ratliff oversaw a period of incredible growth for the community, orchestrating a turnaround from near bankruptcy to the City being recognized by Standard and Poor’s as an A+ rated G.O. He worked to reduce the overall budget expenditures by 25-percent while delivering improved service across all departments and at the same time increasing the assessed valuation of the City by 20-percent. In his role, Brad also oversaw more than $19 million in capital improvements and secured over $12 million in grant funding.
Mayor Judy Bowman says she was pleased with the Board’s decision and looks forward to the experience Ratliff will bring to Harrisonville. “I have had the privilege of knowing Brad Ratliff for several years. I am confident that his experience and track record will help us move Harrisonville forward.”
Before serving the City of Peculiar, Ratliff also served for five years as the Public Relations Official for the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office and for six years as the Director for the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Detention Center. While holding these positions, he also spent time serving as the Chairman for the Unified Government Planning and Zoning Commission for Kansas City, Kansas, and as the Staff Coordinator for the Neighborhood and Community Development Committee.