Hefele interviews for proposed shared city manager’s job

by Peter Jakey-Managing Editor

Onaway city manager Joe Hefele interviewed with members of the Rogers City Council Wednesday for an hour and said a shared manager’s position between the two Presque Isle County communities could work and doesn’t believe it would burn him out.

The interview was conducted in council chambers at the Rogers City Hall.

Hefele, who has been Onaway city manager since July 2001, has the blessing of the Onaway City Commission to pursue it.

“They support the concept as long it is something that benefits both sides, and that it doesn’t overwhelm me,” said Hefele, answering a question from a member of the audience. “They support the concept as well.”

The city of Stanton and the village of Lakeview may be the only communities in the state that have a shared city manager.

“I would not think that this is possible if I did not feel that both of these two communities in Presque Isle County had good, capable department heads and staffs,” said Hefele, when asked by mayor Tom Sobeck how he envisions the shared post working. “That’s the key to everything.” He believes it would be 25 hours a week in Rogers City and 15 hours in Onaway. He is seeking a salary of $70,000, with Rogers City paying $45,000 and Onaway’s portion being $25,000.

“One of the keys to making this work is actually taking work home, to be honest with you,” said Hefele. “A lot of the reporting I do, it actually would be easier for me to do at home. My kids go to bed at eight o’clock, and I don’t start getting super tired until 10 or so…it is easier to focus.

“My wife said she is good with this as long I am not spending 80 hours in an office somewhere and I never see her or my kids.”

Hefele said he would always be available by phone or e-mail from either community, if a problem arises.

“It saves both communities money,” said Hefele. “I know both communities have areas where that money could go. There are infrastructure projects and things that could be bumped up the priority list and done sooner. I am real confident in my abilities and my knowledge of both of these communities that I think it can work out.”

Additionally, Hefele said his organizational skills should be a factor in making the proposal work.

“I am able to balance a lot at one time,” he said. “At varying times over the last 12 years, (Onaway) had several large projects going on at once. I am able to immediately shift gears from one thing to another.”

Hefele said he has a desire to

stay in the area and be close to other family and “play a role in making these communities which we love, even better.” He lives in Case Township, halfway between the two cites. Veteran Rogers City councilman Gary Nowak was impressed with Hefele’s interview, saying it was one of the best he had been involved.

“It is probably one of the strongest interviews I have ever gone through for city manager,” said Nowak.

Sobeck said the next step in Rogers City would be to discuss the matter further during a Tuesday workshop session. It could end up on the agenda of the regular city council meeting.