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Big Rapids commission reviews city managerMark's 2024 performance; asks commissioners to propose 5-year goals
Summary
Commissioner Karen Simmons presented a summary of the commission's 2024 evaluation of the city manager, reporting that the manager "consistently either met or exceeded expectations" while commissioners asked for clearer multi-year goals and budgeting rationale.
Commissioner Karen Simmons presented the city commission's summary of the 2024 performance evaluation of the city manager, saying the manager "consistently either met or exceeded expectations in all areas." The presentation covered finance, operations, personnel, community planning, public relations and professional development.
The evaluation matter matters because it sets expectations and goals for the city manager and guides the commission's oversight of long-term planning and budgeting. Simmons asked each commissioner to submit at least two goals by the end of the week for consolidation into a formal evaluation report.
Simmons said the commission distributed questionnaires to all commissioners and summarized the returned responses. "He has demonstrated strong leadership and strategic foresight in 2024," she said, and listed accomplishments the commission highlighted: street rebuilds (Bailey, Dexter and Ridgeview drives), completion of three parks (Sweet Hills Skate Park, Depot Park and a splash pad), completion of paving projects and completion of contract negotiations with the firefighters union. The presentation also credited the manager with increased public engagement and improvements to staff communications.
Simmons told the commission the evaluation also identified areas for improved transparency: commissioners asked for a clearer articulation of the manager's five- and 10-year goals, more detail about long-term budgeting decisions and more visible staff-development planning. "These opportunities fall more in the category of questions that the commissioners had about what Mark was doing," Simmons said, adding the feedback was a request for additional information, not negative findings.
Commissioners and outside speakers who addressed the evaluation praised the city manager's responsiveness and outreach. One speaker who identified himself as a contractor said it is "very easy to work with him in the city because of his efforts and approachability." County and contract partners echoed similar comments about the manager's intergovernmental relationships.
Simmons said she met with the manager to review proposed goals and that the manager would provide his own goals as part of the consolidated evaluation. She asked commissioners to submit their goal items so she could incorporate them into a formal evaluation report.
The commission did not take a formal vote on the evaluation presentation; Simmons characterized the item as informational and requested written goal suggestions from commissioners.
