Benton enjoying new duties as Randolph City Administrator
RANDOLPH — Ben Benton was looking for a challenge.
He found it in Randolph.
Benton began his new duties as the Randolph City Administrator in December and is hoping to put his bachelor’s degree in communications and master’s in business administration to good use here.
He moved to Norfolk and he and his fiancée, Trish, and children, Kaleigh, Alaina, and Carson, plan to move the 25 miles to Randolph this summer, once school gets out.
“I’ve been intrigued to see and understand how a city works,” Benton said. “I’ve worked for different companies, a university and have been self-employed,” he said.
Benton said he saw the ‘help wanted’ listing and thought the position, looked interesting.
“The job description looked like something I would enjoy doing,” he said.
Benton has been pleased at what he has found here.
“I am really impressed with the quality of work of the city employees and how friendly the community is,” he said. “I love the winter time, but I am waiting for the summer to get here. There are plenty of outdoor activities. It’s a nice, four-season, living.”
The new job has Benton doing a “little bit of everything” as he figures out what the city needs, and works with the City Council so they can make the decisions that are in the best interest of the populace.
“I hope to help the city grow and flourish,” Benton said. “I have had similar experiences and it’s about learning the people and the names to remember. I need to make the time to learn the history of Randolph and the heritage of the city.”
He likes to golf and go camping and hiking and his kids are aiming to go fishing.
“They are at the age where they want to go fish, so we will be doing more fishing,” Benton said. “I might jump in a vehicle for a drive and check out a new city or county – maybe check out some areas of South Dakota.”
Benton, 43, an Arkansas native, has owned a turkey farm and has held a handful of applicable positions while coming over following a stint with FedEx Ground where he was a manager, instructor and also an engineering specialist for the company for 11 years.
