PERRYSBURG

Outgoing mayor does double duty

Evans also working for sheriff’s office

Perrysburg Mayor Nelson Evans, left, has been juggling two duties while finishing the last five months of his term as mayor. In August, he accepted a human resources position at the Wood County Sheriff’s Office.

Perrysburg Mayor Nelson Evans has been juggling two duties while finishing the last five months of his term as mayor.

In August the former Perrysburg chief of police and mayor until Dec. 31 accepted a human resources position at the Wood County Sheriff’s Office with his longtime friend, Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn.

Sheriff Wasylyshyn began as a Perrysburg police officer in September, 1990, to replace Officer Evans, who had been named the city’s DARE officer.

“He has been my sergeant, lieutenant, and chief,” the sheriff said. “He has a wealth of knowledge and tremendous people skills. I completely trust him.”

Sheriff Wasylyshyn thought Mr. Evans was ideal for the human resources position because of his law-enforcement background and mayoral experience. He said he wants to keep Mr. Evans with his office for as many years as he can.

Mr. Evans, 59, retired from the Perrysburg police in 2003. He will be paid $50,000 a year in human resources for the sheriff’s office. He made $25,000 as mayor in 2013.

“As mayor I did hiring, firing, and negotiations. I can bring a unique perspective because I know corrections, and was a police officer,” Mr. Evans said. “It seems like a good fit. ...”

It wasn’t always his plan to get a job around here after his mayoral term ended.

“The original plan was to go to Florida and take a boat trip with my dad, but he passed in February,” Mr. Evans said. “I decided to stick around, and I fit in here.”

He did say it was “a little frustrating” finishing up his duties as mayor and working full time with the sheriff.

He said Perrysburg will have to decide if it needs a full-time mayor or keep it as a part-time position.

Mr. Evans, who said he worked about 30 hours a week as mayor, said he felt as if it were more of a full-time job between several organizations, ribbon cuttings, and other events.

Mr. Evans said city administrator Bridgette Kabat kept him in the loop. The sheriff knew too that Mr. Evans would take time away from work to finish his mayoral term.

“The city will have to decide if they want a full-time mayor for everything day-to-day,” he said.

After Mr. Evans turns in his keys on Tuesday, the city will introduce Mayor Mike Olmstead, president of Performance Over Pain Physical Therapy.