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Welcome aboard, Rachael Smolinski

The Alpena Municipal Council has picked its replacement for retiring City Manager Greg Sundin.

Rachael Smolinski is the current director of the Harbor Springs Downtown Development Authority, but she has ties to the Alpena area.

The council had a tough task before them, interviewing six well-qualified finalists for the job on Saturday, including two internal candidates: Alpena Clerk/Treasurer Anna Soik and Alpena Planning and Development Director Adam Poll.

Any one of the finalists could have been a fine choice, but council members said Smolinski won them over with her dedication to learning about our city. She reached out to and met key people from the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce and Alpena Downtown Development Authority and took the time to read the city’s comprehensive plan, budget, and other documents.

“She did her homework, that’s for sure,” Waligora said.

Pending successful contract negotiations, Smolinski will begin her job in early December and work alongside Sundin for a few weeks to guarantee a smooth transition.

The city manager post is an important one. As chief executive of the city, the person in that seat is literally responsible for keeping the lights on in the city, along with keeping the streets plowed and sidewalks repaired, parks usable, and more.

The city manager often represents our city in its dealings with other cities and towns and the county and state.

We feel confident the Municipal Council has made the right choice.

Welcome aboard, Ms. Smolinski. We look forward to working with you.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)

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