DeLand set to trim city manager list

On Monday, officials will talk about the short list to take over Michael Abels' job. Andrea Stanley | Special To The Sentinel The DeLand City Commission will take another step this week to fill the shoes of City Manager Michael Abels, who is set to retire in September. Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 120 S. Florida Ave., to whittle the list of remaining candidates. What was once a hefty list of 68 now stands at five, among them Michael Pleus, assistant city manager for DeLand, the only Florida candidate still in the running. In mid-May, city commissioners formulated 20 questions to send to the nine semifinalists. After the May 28 deadline, three dropped out and one did not return the questionnaire. On Monday, commissioners will discuss the questionnaires and decide how to proceed, said Commissioner... [read full story]