New Marine City manager will start on Oct. 3
By Barb Pert Templeton
For the third time in as many years Marine City will welcome a new city manager to its administrative offices in early October.
After interviewing six candidates in August, officials agreed to offer a contract to former Port Huron Police Chief Michael Reaves. He served as the top law enforcement officer in Port Huron from 2011 to 2018.
The contract states that Reaves will serve an indefinite term at the will of the city commission and annual compensation will be $115,000. He will also be entitled to 120 hours of vacation time which must be used before his one-year anniversary of employment with the city. The compensation will be bumped to 160 hours the following year. The contract also notes a $500 technology allowance which includes money for a cell phone and a $350 per month car allowance.
At the city commission’s Sept. 19 meeting, current City Manager Scott Adkins said the city manager employment agreement the attorney drafted for Reaves is basically the same language that was in his agreement.
“I ask for the approval of this city manager employment agreement which could begin on Oct. 3 which also coincides with the beginning of the city pay period and also nothing says welcome aboard more than starting in the morning and being in a meeting that night,” Adkins said.
The candidate Marine City officials have selected to fill the city manager’s position is former
Port Huron Police Chief Michael Reaves. He most recently served as the administrator in
Emmett, MI.
City Attorney Robert Davis said the only thing different in the employment agreement was something in Section 8 regarding communication. He said since the commission often states that the open communication coming from the city offices these days is something they appreciate he wanted to capture that in the contract.
“The applicant agreed with that so that was the only thing glaringly new,” Davis said. Welcoming Reaves on board
Commissioner Sean O’Brien said he just wanted to take a few moments to again acknowledge how nice it was to see so many well qualified candidates interested in the city.
Commissioners Rita Roehrig and William Klaassen were absent from the Sept. 19 meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Hendrick said she wanted to thank Reaves for ‘taking this on’, called his interview flawless, stated she can’t wait to work with him and said that his employment is going to very good for the city.
Mayor Jennifer Vandenbossche echoed those sentiments, called his resume stellar and thanked him for agreeing to come to the city to work.
Marine City Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Hendrick thanked Reaves for coming to the city and said his
interview was “flawless.”
“Again, if it wasn’t for the leadership of the current city manager, we wouldn’t have had the quality of candidates that we had, such as Mr. Reaves, coming to us wanting this position,” Vandenbossche said.
During his regular administrative comments to the commission Adkins thanked Reaves for agreeing to take on the job and said he feels it’s going to be an unusually great transition. “Welcome, thank you for not running in the opposite direction and the city will do well in having you here,” Adkins said.
City Clerk Jason Bell also took a few moments to welcome Reaves to the team and said he’s excited, looking forward to working with him and believes he’s going to be a very good team player.
Commissioner Jacob Bryson took a moment during his commissioner comments to welcome Reaves, stating he can’t wait to work with him.
“I have nothing but high hopes for this city, I really think we’re going in a really good direction,” Bryson added.
Commissioner Brian Ross welcomed Reaves and said he was excited to start working with him. Reaves, who was seated in the audience asked to address the commission. He said everyone has been extremely welcoming and he see’s tons of potential for the city and thanked the commission for the opportunity.
