Familiar face in city government takes helm as WSP city manager
Mary Diedrick Hansen
Staff Writer
After nearly 27 years as West St. Paul’s finance director, John Remkus has set aside his nimble number-crunching ability to take over as city manager. The City Council named Remkus to the position in mid-April. Remkus took over for Karen Divina, who stepped in as interim city manager in January after the sudden resignation and quick departure of previous manager Arbon Hairston, who resigned after three years of service.
"Taking over as city manager is a ‘win-win’ for the city and myself," said Remkus, 60, who considers the move an opportunity to expand and end his career on a high note. In taking on managerial responsibilities, he brings nearly three decades of "institutional" knowledge of the city to his new job. His appointment also frees up the Council to focus on more pressing issues of the city rather than being enmeshed in a time-consuming search process.
A real plus for the city, added Remkus, is that he will hire his replacement as finance director and be on hand so his replacement will be able to "pick his brain."
"I’m going to do my best to stay out of their business, especially when Truth in Taxation comes up," he added. "I will be busy with other matters." The process for finding his replacement has already begun.
Remkus began his career in Shoreview, where he worked as an assistant finance director for two years, and finance director for three. From there he came to West St. Paul.
Born and raised in Albert Lea, Minn., he likes the history and the small town "feel" of the city.
"West St. Paul is like a ‘greater’ Minnesota city dropped in the metro," he said. "I like the people I work with, the city, and have felt very comfortable."
Remkus said he believes that one of his biggest challenges as the new city manager is becoming more visible.
"Doing finances has been a ‘back room’ operation: crunching numbers, making financial recommendations, not plowing the streets, putting out fires or arresting people," he said. "With city management it’s ‘people operation’ versus ‘technical operation.’ I am comfortable I can do it." Comfortable, he said, because he’s "a talker" and believes that "most of life’s problems can be solved if you just talk, be collaborative, and lay your cards on the table.
"Managers in the past were accused of keeping things quiet and not doing a good job of communicating," added Remkus. He intends to have an open door policy and hopes his hallmark will be that he was open and receptive.
Before hiring Remkus, the City Council was considering revising the management style of city government that now exists in West St. Paul to an administrative one. A change like that would have given more power to the council in the hiring and firing of city staff. It would have also demanded a greater time commitment from the council.
"I believe in a manager form of government," said Remkus. "If you have the right person and management style, it works. It’s a more efficient operation, and taxpayers get the best bang for the buck. West St. Paul has an active council that wants to be involved. Councils can be very different, with different focuses. It’s one of the shortfalls of our form of government. We get our marching orders to go north, then a new council is elected and suddenly they want us to go northwest. That’s when we need to discuss five-year plans. The path has been laid and policy is a cumbersome beast to change direction quickly."
Remkus said he will offer his advice to the council on issues even if it goes contrary to their wishes. In the end they have the final say, but he is looking forward to using his many years of experience to help the council do its job. |
