By Jim Bloch
Scott Adkins is back.
Thirteen years after leaving his post as St. Clair’s city superintendent to become the city manager of Roseville, Adkins is returning as interim city superintendent.
At its regular meeting May 19, the city council voted unanimously to hire Adkins as the interim city superintendent. Adkins will be filling the position to be vacated by Quentin Bishop, who was offered the job as Marysville city manager on May 12; longtime Marysville City Manager Randy Fernandez is retiring.
“I have accepted a position with the city of Marysville,” said Bishop, as heard on the CTV-Channel 6 recording of the meeting posted on YouTube. He has given the city the required 30-day notice of his departure. “Within those 30 days, it’s important that the transition happens as quickly and seamlessly as possible.”
Council member Mitch Kuffa made the motion to hire Adkins, which included a directive to have Bishop draw up a contract for Adkins, which would include his start date, salary and benefits. Bishop said he would work with City Attorney Jim Downey to finalize the contract, which will return to council for approval June 2.
Adkins, who lives in St. Clair, may get to work as soon as possible.
“I think he can begin with the understanding that these are the terms,” said Downey.
While the post is temporary, it may be somewhat lengthy.
City Clerk Annette Sturdy served as interim city superintendent for nine months between the time that Warren Rothe departed to become the assistant city manager of Grosse Pointe Park in 2022 and the hiring of Bishop in early 2023.
In his return, Adkins brings a wealth of experience, far more than the city’s last three superintendents combined – Mike Booth, Rothe and Bishop — none of whom had served as a city manager before being hired by St. Clair.
Adkins served as the treasurer of Huron Township for three years, the supervisor Bath Township for two-plus years and the city manager of Vassar for four years before arriving in St. Clair in 2006, succeeding Patrick Sullivan. After leaving St. Clair in 2012,
Adkins spent more than a decade helming the city of Roseville. He then stepped in as the manager of Marine City from April 2023-Sept. 2024, where he made $105,000 per year; Bishop earned $120,000 per year in St. Clair.
Adkins earned his B.S. and M.S. at Eastern Michigan University.
“Welcome aboard,” said Mayor Bill Cedar.
“A whole new environment,” said Adkins.
Well, not wholly new. Cedar was the mayor during Adkins’ entire first stint in the superintendent’s seat and Mike LaPorte served as Mayor Pro Tem; Kuffa had begun his first year on the council two-plus months before Adkins left.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
