Hutchinson City Manager John Deardoff leaves on high note despite difficult times

It was not the way he planned to go out. But Hutchinson City Manager John Deardoff’s response to the novel coronavirus sweeping in during the last weeks of a 40-year career was typical for the respected community city leader. He was set to retire March 27, but in February the Hutchinson City Council asked him to stay a little longer until his replacement was set to arrive. The county’s first confirmed COVID-19 case was reported on March 21. As the virus spread around the region and state it led to local and state stay-at-home orders, resulting in city hall being closed to the public and the sudden need to cut at least $1 million from the city budget in anticipation of shortfalls in sales tax collections.