Director accepts Marlette offer

Imlay City DDA leader takes city manager role

 

IMLAY CITY — Late Tuesday morning, (June 17) the Tri-City Times learned Imlay City Downtown Development Authority Executive Director, Christine Malzahn, reached an agreement and accepted the offer from the City of Marlette to become their next City Manager.

Mayor Barbara Yockey, who is also a member of the Imlay City DDA Board, confirmed the report of Malzahn’s departure.

“Christine Malzahn has been the Imlay City DDA Executive Director for just over two years. She has exhibited creative problem solving skills and hard work on behalf of the DDA. I wish her well in her new position as City Manager of Marlette,” Mayor Yockey stated.

Malzahn submitted her resignation letter to the DDA Board Tuesday via email that Mayor Yockey said she received around 10:30 a.m.

The resignation is effective as of June 30. Malzahn is scheduled to begin her new duties in Marlette July 1, according to her resignation letter.

Malzahn was one of six candidates for the open position in Marlette, interviewed for the job and was named the city council’s unanimous choice, following a special meeting on June 5.

On Monday morning of this week Malzahn had said, “I have not formally accepted the position and am working with the Interim Marlette City Manager, Brian McGinnis, on contract details” Malzahn told the Tri-City Times in an email.

McGinnis is the city’s former Police Chief and had agreed to serve as interim city manager following the departure of former city manager Ryan Rudzis.

The IC DDA Executive Director told the Marlette council she was honored by their vote and she was excited about the opportunity to serve the Marlette community.

Just a few days later, at the Imlay City DDA meeting June 9, there was much debate about a requested pay raise and financial perk for Malzahn that had mixed reviews.

Malzahn had previously asked for a raise of over $10,000 for the next fiscal year.

However, the DDA board did not feel that was appropriate and a majority of the board agreed to a 3.5% increase, similar to other city employees.

At the June 9 meeting, the Imlay City DDA board went in to executive session for nearly an hour for personnel matters and discussion of purchase of property, according to the meeting’s agenda.

Upon coming back to regular session, the majority of the board approved a motion to give Malzahn a 5% stipend of any new grants she is successful with for the city, up to a maximum of $15,000 annually.

Mayor Barbara Yockey was the lone nay vote on the board saying, “I am totally against this. Applying for grants is part of your job. I feel strongly that you should not be paid extra for doing your job. I am completely against this.”

Board member Steve Robbins stated, “it’s a performance based bonus that she can strive for, just like in the private business world. Imlay City is at a crossroads downtown and I think we need to do what we can to keep her here.”

Board members Robbins, Jason Shattuck, Joi Kempf, Stu Davis, Kim Jorgensen and Board Chairman Walt Bargen voted in favor of the incentive.

In other DDA news, Imlay City Police Chief Brett Selby was in attendance to speak about special events in town and whether or not permits were needed.

The discussion was sparked by a recent spur of the moment car show near the intersection of E. Third and Main St. earlier this month.

“Personally, I’d hate to have so much bureaucracy that it would hinder public gatherings,” the Chief said. “ It’s a good thing to have, the show it brought a lot of people downtown and businesses were doing well. It’s a good problem to have. As a department, we do not have a problem with it.”

Chief Selby told the DDA board needing a special use permit is one thing, generally reserved ed for special events. Having a spur of the moment car or bike show is not considered a special event, according to the Chief.

During public comment time a concerned business person expressed their concern over what they believe is the lack of cohesiveness between city departments.

“You people, and I am talking about the DDA, the  Chamber and the city, you people don’t know what the other one is doing and there is little to no communication” the board was told.

Two recent events at the Eastern Michigan State Fairgrounds were used as examples.

“It would have been good to know, as a downtown business person who could have prepared better, it would have been good to know there was a demolition derby going on. Or a Lavender Festival. We had no idea. It would have been helpful. All of you need to do a better job. Communicate and work together.”

An update was also given on the renovations for the old DPW building along E. Third St.

Materials have been ordered and work is expected to begin within the next two months. It is hoped to have the exterior of the building secured with a new roof, new steel siding and new glass doors.

“We are looking at using $80,000 of the first $100,000 for the outside work,” said Malzahn. We want to get all of that done and then see what ideas the public might have for the inside. We do know we’ll have all new electrical, ADA restrooms and an epoxy floor.”