Council approves contract with new city manager Mark Slown

Mark D. Slown, 52, who spent three decades in the military and five years as Oxford city manager in Oakland County, was officially appointed Rogers City manager at a special Rogers City Council meeting conducted last Friday at city hall. The vote to approve Slown?s (pronounced slone) contract was approved by mayor Beach Hall and council members Deb Greene and Jim Sinclair. Slown, who will begin his new duties September 25, will be paid an annual salary of $65,000. The search for John Bruning?s replacement took only a month. Slown was in Rogers City over the weekend searching for a house and likes his early impressions of the town.

?ON SATURDAY and Sunday, I saw beautiful and happy people doing fun things as I toured the city,? said Slown. ?A sample of those, I saw an older man working his way down the street in a walker–he waved and smiled, children in their yards too caught up in play to notice anyone, men working to improve several different buildings, couples out for a stroll, some kayakers on the lake, and a lot of people going to church. Good people!? Slown served in the Air Force from 1976 to 1999, before taking a job as village manager for Oxford from 1999 to 2004. ?I think he?ll be an excellent fit for Rogers City,? Hall said, adding Slown?s experience working in many different communities should benefit Rogers City. While in the Air Force, he served on bases around the world. ?I look forward to the challenge of the job; it has great variety and interest,? said Slown. He said in one day the city will deal with several different economic development actions, short-term budget actions, staff and labor union concerns, citizen questions, communications problems, long-term contracts, all the while preparing for a meeting that night. ?The next day is completely different, and the next! Some common themes recur: how can we communicate more effectively, how can we operate more efficiently, how can we improve the quality of life for citizens? It is a great job–as challenging and exciting as military service. I highly recommend young people look into local government service as a career.?

THE CONTRACT states that Slown will receive three weeks paid vacation, $5,000 in relocation expenses and severance pay equal to six weeks of aggregate salary should city council elect to terminate him. Slown has declined health, dental, and optical insurance, but will participate in the Michigan Employees Retirement System through a deferred compensation plan. ?I’m pleased and excited about coming to Rogers City for the job, the location, and the people,? said Slown. ?The location is idyllic; my wife and I, and abou

t a half-dozen other people, watched a beautiful sunset from Seagull Point. ?The harbor is lovely. Housing is very affordable–a refreshing change from Oakland County’s high prices. The city has done a great job making parks and trails to enjoy. Sometimes people get used to greatness near them and it seems ordinary…Rogers City is an extraordinary location. And I’ve been to a lot of extraordinary locations.? Hall said some of Slown?s initial priorities, along with becoming acclimated with the city, will be further improvements to the Lakeview Development, as well as economic development.

Council member Deb Greene added that she would like for Slown to be involved in educating members of the city planning commission, zoning board of appeals, and community development authority on the issues they have to deal with. Slown said he is a good fit as city manager because he wants to come to the Nautical City ? ?not just to earn a paycheck–to live here and make it a better city.?