Susanville City Council hires Wilson as new administrator

The City of Susanville offered an employment agreement to Michael Wilson for the position of Susanville’s City Administrator at a special meeting held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24.

As per a released city council agenda, the city of Susanville and Michael Wilson have negotiated an at-will agreement for the position of city administrator to be voted upon at the special meeting.

The employment agreement states the term of the employment would begin Feb. 25 and end Feb. 25, 2021. It also states that Wilson is due to obtain a beginning salary of $101,907, with the council conducting a six-month performance review, at which time, he would be eligible for a salary increase.

Interim city administrator Dan Newton told the council the process of hiring Wilson was in accordance with the recently approved hiring process for department heads.
“Through that process,” said Newton, “there was a community panel, a professional panel and then finally the council interviewed the candidate.”

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Michael Wilson was born and raised in Oroville, California. After graduating from Oroville High School in 1985, Wilson began a career in public safety working for the California Department of Forestry.

While working for CDF, Wilson was eventually assigned to fire prevention where he acquired an interest in law enforcement.

Wilson attended the Butte College Police Academy and decided to change careers to become a police officer in his hometown.

Later Wilson transferred to the city of Gridley for a short time before returning to Oroville where he promoted to the rank of Police sergeant and became part of a Joint Oroville / Paradise Police Department’s SWAT team.

Later, Wilson transferred to the city of Placerville as a police sergeant and then to Marysville where he promoted through the ranks to police captain.

In 2013, Wilson took the job of Chief of Public Safety for the Lake Shastina Police and Fire departments. Wilson also worked for a short period of time for the County of Siskiyou as the Director of Emergency Services.

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Wilson spent a year with the State of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services as the Deputy Regional Administrator for the California’s Coastal Region.

Wilson returned to Lake Shastina in 2017 as the Police Chief and eventually was appointed as the District General Manager, overseeing Police, Fire, Water and Sewer for the Community Services District.

Wilson describes himself as an outdoors enthusiast who enjoys hunting, fishing, backpacking and camping.

He looks forward to the remarkable recreational opportunities offered in Lassen County and looks forward to becoming an active member in the Susanville Community..