By Jim Bloch
Steve Duchane sat in the center of the St. Clair City Council at its regular meeting June 16. It was his first as St. Clair’s new city superintendent.
“I want to thank everybody for welcoming me,” said Duchane, as heard on the recording of the meeting by CTV-Channel 6 and posted on YouTube. “These first 10 days have been very interesting and positive, and I appreciate everybody’s help in making the transition.”
He thanked outgoing City Superintendent Quentin Bishop for his help.
At its regular meeting June 2, the city council voted unanimously to hire Duchane as the next superintendent. The council held a special meeting before the regular meeting to interview Duchane, the only candidate considered.
The city of Marysville recently hired Bishop as its city manager. Bishop fulfilled the 30-day notice with St. Clair July 13 after Duchane was already onboard.
“I liked his resume, really impressive,” said council member Mitch Kuffa on June 2. “I did make some phone calls on references. All came back very positive. I thought his interview went great. That’s just my two cents.”
“I’m a big fan of Quentin Bishop, but I’m also a big fan of what I saw tonight,” said Mayor Bill Cedar. “I agree with you.”
Kuffa made the motion, supported by Mayor Pro Tem Mike LaPorte, to hire Duchane and have Bishop negotiate his contract.
Unlike his last three predecessors in St. Clair, who had never run a city, Duchane arrives with a lifetime of experience.
Most recently he served as the community service coordinator for Macomb County Public Works, April 2024-March 2025. He has his own consulting firm, SMD LLC, specializing in management and organization, which has been in business since 2017. He’s work for eight years as an adjunct professor of administration at Central Michigan University. He served as deputy township supervisor and director of human resources for Chesterfield Township, where he lives, 2018-2023.
He was the city manager of Eastpointe, 2011-2017, serving also as the city clerk and personnel director. Duchane managed the city of Lincoln Park, 2004-2011 and the city of Sterling Heights, 1986-2003. He briefly worked in Marysville as its administrator in 1986. He managed the city of Corunna, 1982-1986. He served as the assistant to the city manager for personnel in Howell, 1980-1982 and worked as a police officer in the same city, 1976-1980.
Duchane earned his bachelor’s degree in public administration from Central Michigan University in 2005 and his master’s degree there two years later.
On June 16, the St. Clair City Council voted 7-0 to approve the contract, which will pay Duchane $120,000 per year beginning with his official start date of June 3. The city will contribute three percent of his salary or $3,600 per year to its 457 deferred compensation plan in Duchane’s name. It will provide medical, dental and vision insurance to Duchane and his qualified dependents. Duchane will be covered by a liability insurance policy of $10 million “applicable to his acts or omissions as city superintendent.” The job comes with a $500 per month vehicle allowance, a city mobile phone, 11 days of vacation and 12 sick days and 11 paid holidays. His office hours will be Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The city council will evaluate his performance at least once per year.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
