South Hutchinson administrator Jeff Schenk named city administrator of the year
The city's announcement credits a national association for the honor, while the publication it points readers to is a trade magazine.
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Sign up freeSouth Hutchinson City Administrator Jeff Schenk has been named 2026 City Administrator of the Year, an honor the city largely credits to a digital overhaul that moved permitting online for residents and businesses. The announcement, posted Monday, Sept. 14, on the city's website, carries no money, contract or policy change.
According to the city's article, the award cites Schenk's leadership and a digital service transformation plan that streamlined permitting, expanded online access to city resources and improved response times for residents and businesses. The announcement gives no cost for that work, no launch date for the permitting system and no before-and-after response times. The city has separately announced a new online permitting portal, which matches the digital work the citation describes.
The city's article says the award is presented annually by the National Association of City Management Professionals and recognizes innovation, effective governance and community engagement. The same item refers readers to a publication it calls Govt Business Review, but Citizen Journal's research traces the recognition to a feature in Gov Business Review magazine, not a national association by that name. The announcement appears only on the city's website and social media channels, and Citizen Journal could not confirm which organization presented the award.
Schenk has served as South Hutchinson city administrator since 2021. "This award reflects the hard work of our entire city team," he said in the announcement.
According to the city, a ceremony is to take place later this year at an annual national conference for city administrators and municipal leadership professionals; the city did not give a date or location.
The city's website carries both the announcement and the online permitting portal, and residents can direct questions to South Hutchinson City Hall.
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