Scottville commission offers city manager job to Shelby native.

Courtney Magaluk

Scottville commission offers city manager job to Shelby native.

SCOTTVILLE — The City Commission has offered Courtney Magaluk of Shelby the job of city manager. The commission met today, Wednesday, May 29, and interviewed two candidates for the position. A third candidate had withdrawn due to personal reasons.

Magaluk, is a graduate of Shelby High School and attended West  Shore Community College. She earned a bachelor’s of science degree from Michigan State University with a major in environmental studies and applications. She earned a master’s degree from Clemson University with a major in city and regional planning. She has spent much of her career in South Caroline and Florida.

She said she and her husband have two children, a 6-year-old and a 1 1/2-year-old.

Magaluk’s career has included working as a planning technician for Islamorada, Village of Islands, in Islamorado, Fla., a graduate research assistant for Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson University, planning technician for Islamorada, Village of Islands, transportation planning intern/planning assistant, City of Anderson, South Carolina, project planner/senior planner, WilsonMIller, Inc., Sarasota, Fla., senior planner/chief planner, City of Sarasota, and most recently senior project manager for City of Grand Rapids.

“Although most of my professional career has been spent in Florida, I was born and raised in Oceana County and attended West Shore Community College under dual enrollment,” she wrote in her cover letter. “A few years ago, I realized that it was time to come home and bring my family back to the small town lifestyle that I treasured growing up.”

“While I lack direct experience in the manager’s chair, I believe you will find a candidate that brings the energy, experience, and fresh perspective needed for success. Although I am a planner in education and title, my role over the past several years has truly been one of a facilitator. I bring a solid foundation of project management and inter-departmental coordination on complex community issues and development projects.”

The three city manager candidates chosen by the City Commission for consideration have accepted the commission’s invitation for interviews. The candidates are Courtney Magaluk of Shelby, Dale Stuart of Clarkston, and James Van Ess of Grand Rapids and Ludington.

The other candidate interviewed was Dale Stuart, who most recently worked as the township manager/superintendent of Oakland Charter Township in Oakland County, ending three years of service there in March of this year. Prior to that, he has worked as elected supervisor of Independence Charter Township in Oakland Township for 12 years, city manager of City of Keego Harbor in Oakland County, and city manager of City of Cheboygan in Cheboygan County.

Commissioners agreed that Magaluk fit the commission’s desire to make economic development a priority, though there were some concerns about her lack of direct experience as a city manager. Some commissioners commented that Stuart’s personality and management style did not seem to fit the direction the commission wanted to take the city.

The decision to offer Magaluk the job was a 6-1 vote, with Mayor Bruce Krieger voting against. Commissioner Marcy Spencer had questioned if the commission wanted to explore alternatives to the two candidates.

Mayor Krieger, Interim Manager Steve Brock and City Attorney Tracy Thompson will initiate contract discussions with Magaluk while the Michigan Municipal League performs an extensive background check. It could be three weeks before she is officially hired.

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