The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Assistant city manager hired
By Dan DuChene, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 10, 2007
A new assistant city manager will be starting her work in Ypsilanti on May 29.
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The new appointment, as well as a tentative deputy city clerk appointment, rounds out the vacancies in Ypsilanti City Hall.
City Manager Ed Koryzno appointed April McGrath, the human resources director for the city of Monroe, to the position last week, after her background investigation was completed. She will earn more than $73,000 a year in Ypsilanti.
McGrath, 33, will replace Bob Bruner, the former assistant city manager, who left the city in February, after he was hired as Ferndale's city manager. Bruner made $64,000 a year in Ypsilanti, nearly $10,000 less than McGrath's new salary.
A Trenton resident, McGrath has been working in Monroe for a year and nine months. She earns a $62,000 salary there.
Before Monroe, she worked for the city of Grand Haven for nine years. Starting in an entry-level position, she finished as the assistant city manager and human resources director. She earned $54,000 a year there.
"She's very impressive," Koryzno said of McGrath. "She brings a wealth of experience from two different cities."
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in communications from Grand Valley State University in 1996, McGrath started working for Grand Haven's police department.
"I just got really lucky," McGrath said of getting her job in Grand Haven. "Now I have a passion for public municipality work."
Even though McGrath didn't anticipate government work after graduation, she said she enjoys what she does.
"People are very passionate about their communities," she said. "I enjoy being a part of that community."
Five years after graduating from Grand Valley, McGrath earned a master's degree in management from Baker College. She said the degree had an emphasis on human resources, what she called her "first passion." However, she said she missed management work when she took the position Monroe.
"It's a nice coupling," McGrath said of her new position in Ypsilanti, which also deals with human resources. "I love being more involved in the day-to-day operations."
McGrath said the only similarity Grand Haven, with an 11,500 population, shares with Ypsilanti is the fluctuation of its population. She said Grand Haven has more residents in the summer because people own summer cottages. In Ypsilanti, many EMU students leave for home after the winter semester ends.
Monroe, she said, has much more in common with Ypsilanti. With a population of 22,000, she said the city is facing financial challenges and staffing problems. However, she said the city doesn't have as diverse a population as Ypsilanti.
"One of the reasons I moved to the east side of the state was for more diverse challenges," McGrath said. "I think it will help me grow in a more positive way."
After applying for the position, McGrath said she started doing her homework and learning about Ypsilanti. She said she is aware the city has a looming deficit and an income tax may be on the ballot this year.
"I do know that you guys are rich in history," McGrath said. "I know you have so much potential, but your facing those deep financial challenges."
McGrath said she looks forward to learning about Ypsilanti's community and meeting City Council on Tuesday. She said she looks forward to working with the city's union contracts, but she also knows it will be challenging work.
"I'm looking forward to (my first day)," McGrath said. "I'm pretty sure I won't be bored."
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