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New City Manager Todd Campbell has spent his first two weeks on the job getting to know the city and his staff. "Everyone here has welcomed me with open arms," he said. Campbell was hired to replace long-time city manager Larry Stoever, who resigned in November.
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Listening and learning.
That's what has been crucial to Saline's new City Manager, Todd Campbell during his first two weeks on the job at city hall.
Campbell believes strongly that this dialogue during these early days will be the foundation upon which he can build successful relationships and ultimately help Saline continue to grow and prosper.
With ten years of city management experience under his belt, most recently as assistant city manager in Sturgis, Campbell brings to the table a true blue conviction that communication is key.
"I would rather 'over communicate,'" said Campbell from his corner office at City Hall Monday. "And, I think face-to-face meetings are the best when possible, to build then strengthen relationships."
As of Monday, Campbell could get his city email on his phone so is now entwined in the paper path of his job, too.
Since he started the job, Campbell has met with nearly every one of the city's 13 department heads, attended numerous evening meetings for various commissions and sat in on discussions with many of the committees and organizations that make Saline tick.
"Todd's energy and enthusiasm is very exciting and I can already see evidence of his philosophy of listening, engaging others to participate and working as a team player," said Mayor Gretchen Driskell who handed over the job after her stint as interim city manager.
Campbell walked through downtown Saline last week with Downtown Development Director Art Trapp to meet business owners and merchants.
He attended a breakfast to meet members and staff of the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce. He met with the creative forces at Two Twelve Arts Center to begin to establish an important relationship there, one of the many inspiring volunteer-driven organizations that will help Saline grow, he noted. "They are a bundle of energy. Very impressive."
"Everyone here has welcomed me with open arms and every day I feel more and more privileged to sit in this chair, in this community, doing this job," said Campbell.
As City Manager, he hopes he and his staff will be approachable and helpful. "We are here to help residents and business owners navigate through the City's guidelines, help them over any hurdles and take people by the hand if necessary to help them get things done."
Part of his job will be to work with Finance Director Lee Bourgoin and Trapp in marketing the City to prospective business owners and investors.
Presenting a positive picture of Saline won't be hard for Campbell.
He's a big fan.
"The quality of the people here, the amenities, the proximity to highways and other metro areas, the strong commercial and industrial base and the high quality of life are what make Saline amazing," said Campbell. "And yet, there is still a small town feel here."
Campbell has two conferences queued up where he'll represent the City of Saline. In April he will attend the Michigan Municipal League meeting in Lansing and in May, a brownfield conference in Detroit.
Campbell is staying in Saline on weekdays and heads home to his wife and three children at the weekends. The family will join him here in Saline where they will buy a home this summer.
Staff Writer Sue G. Collins can be reached at 429-7380 or scollins@heritage.com.
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