Josh Hartbarger, 44, has been appointed City Administrator for the City of Maumee. The Maumee City Council unanimously approved the appointment at the May 4 meeting.
He currently serves as Deputy Administrator and Chief Operations Officer for the Village of Whitehouse, where he oversees municipal operations, technology initiatives, and economic development efforts. Before his administrative roles, Josh served the Village of Whitehouse Fire Department from 2006 to 2023, including seven years as Fire Chief. He is a nationally registered paramedic, Firefighter II, instructor, and inspector.
Josh’s educational background reflects his broad interests in government, public health, and administrative systems. He earned an Associate of Liberal Arts with a concentration in Government from Owens Community College in 2005. Shortly after graduation, he served the National Science Foundation as a fire lieutenant at McMurdo Station in Antarctica and the Amundsen Scott South Pole Station, where he was responsible for base inspections and safety oversight. He later completed a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration from Bowling Green State University in 2015 and a Master of Public Health from Ohio University in 2022.
Josh lives in Whitehouse with his wife, Nikki, and their daughters, Josie and Valerie.
His appointment follows a competitive and community involved selection process. The City received 38 applications for the Administrator position. After an initial screening, eight applicants were invited to complete a questionnaire, and four advanced to internal interviews. Those candidates then met with the Employee and Community Relations Committee—Council Members Isiah Gonzalez, Scott Sund, and Dave Poeppelmeier, along with Maumee residents Karla Lewis, John Sayre, and Maumee High School Principal Cori Wagner—who were selected after submitting their names for consideration.