.jpg)
RANDOLPH – Benjamin Benton is looking forward to helping northeast Nebraska small business owners in a new role.
Benton recently submitted his resignation from the position of Randolph city administrator/ clerk that he’s held for the last four years. He is set to become the next director of the Small Business Development Center office that is located in Wayne.
Benton’s last day of working at the Randolph city office is March 15 and his first day on the job for the SBDC is March 18.
“I’m excited at the opportunity to try something new,” Benton said. “It’s definitely bittersweet because I’ve enjoyed working here. There’s always things not quite 100 percent done when you leave. You’ll never, ever get it all done.”
One of the most significant projects left nearly finished but not quite - the Middle Logan Creek Floodplain project.
Construction began in the fall of 2020, nine months after Benton started as city administrator and the project is set to wrap up later this year.
“I would’ve liked to have still been an employee to see the completion of the project, the dedication, and the re-mapping of the floodplain district by FEMA,” Benton said. That’s the good thing about not moving. We will still be residents and will still celebrate the accomplishment when that happens.”
Benton has enjoyed “putting Randolph on the map,” through networking with representatives from state, county, and regional organizations, as well as working with residents, employees, and volunteers.
“Randolph is a small town with a lot of volunteers that care about it. I’m proud of the accomplishments of all the boards and commission,” he said.
During his time at the City of Randolph, Benton was pleased to expand recycling efforts as well as to help bring back Honey Fest after a 20-plus year hiatus.
Another major accomplishment was cleaning up local nuisance properties like the Cedar Motel, and making way for new business development with the construction of Stonacek Funeral Chapel on Highway 20.
Once the floodplain project is completed, Randolph will be aligned to welcome new housing and business developments. He hopes the city fills the position of economic developer to help facilitate growth.
Randolph is included in Benton’s 30-county service area as director of the SBDC. The SBDC office housed at Wayne State College is one of eight under the Nebraska Business Development Center – part of the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s College of Business Administration. Benton is replacing the retiring Loren Kucera of Clarkson who has been in the position for more than 30 years. Benton got to know Kucera through the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development Network.
“While I am leaving the city administrator role, I will still be helping new businesses become a reality, not only here in Cedar County but in those 30 counties. I’m very optimistic about business growth,” he said. “I’ll be working with small business owners and individuals who want to start a small business.”
Benton is grateful for the experience working for the City of Randolph since December 2019.
“The community is in good hands with the caliber of current city employees,” Benton said. “I’m thankful for the mayor and the council. I’m confident the city will find the right person to fill the role.”
