Ptak officially out as Hastings city administrator, search for replacement starts

HASTINGS, NE — The City of Hastings is searching for a new city administrator.

Mayor Corey Stutte says Dave Ptak no longer works for the city. Ptak had served as city administrator since 2019 and was city attorney before that. A city email from April 11 said Ptak was going on leave for an unspecified personnel issue.

Stutte said he couldn’t comment on any details because it was a personnel matter.

Manager of Hastings Utilities Kevin Johnson has been acting as city administrator since Ptak went on leave and will continue in that role until a new administrator is hired. Stutte says the city will engage with a recruiter in the hiring process and expects it to take two-three months to make a hire.