Tom Yennerell, our town administrator, is moving on. He will be taking a position in Henniker, N.H. and leaves behind many friends.
His time with the town of Mancos has been filled with ups and downs.
"When I first came here, it seemed like we were always fixing things," he said. "And there are still a lot of things to do. But I've enjoyed my time here."
His accomplishments for the past five years - he's been in Mancos since September 2007 - have been diverse and impressive. Most of what he's done in his time here, and the things that he'll remember, are the infrastructure improvements. During 2008, he helped to install 1 1/2 miles of new sewer and water mains and then was instrumental in getting the new pavement and reconstruction of South Main Street, No. beech and North Willow. He has also completed various park improvements, such as a skateboard park facility, a new basketball court, sidewalks, restrooms and an irrigation system in Boyle Park and had new Mancos signs put up on Highway 160, Grand Ave. and Main Street.
He completed the new wastewater treatment facility, getting approval for a new type of technology, and obtained funding for the design and construction for the pedestrian bridge over the Mancos River.
"It's been a very challenging and multi-dimensional job," he said. "No two days are alike, and that keeps it interesting."
He can't say enough good things about the staff that he's had during his time here. The clerk/treasurer, the deputy clerk, the parks and recreation coordinator, the streets supervisor, the public works director and the marshal and his deputies have all been helpful and very capable, he said. "A town administrator depends on his staff!"
Since he's been here, he's seen some changes in the town. But he's most proud of the increased professionalism that he's seen in the town and its staff. "It's important for a local government and its adminstration to operate that way," he said.
Rachael Simbeck, the current mayor of Mancos, who has been on the board most of Yennerell's time, said that "things seemed insurmountable when Tom got here. But he found a way to get them done. He wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty."
In any town, the administrator's decisions depend on the influence of the citizens. "When Downtown Colorado, Inc. came and told everyone what needed to be done, we all knew those things," he said. "But hearing them say them and having them give us a summary of their findings helped all of us to focus."
Heather Alvarez, the current clerk and treasurer, will be the interim town administrator until the board can do a thorough search for Yennerell's replacement. "She'll do a good job as my interim," said Yennerell.
Simbeck feels that he is leaving Mancos better than he found it five years ago. "That shows that he cares about seeing Mancos be a better town," she said. "His transition will be smooth, I'm sure. He's set things up so we can continue to work on programs that have been done, so that we can get another professional in here that will hit the ground running!"
"We've created a lot of plans," Yennerell said. "Like the trails plan throughout Mancos, the comprehensive plan with the planning and zoning board, and a plan for developing businesses."
His advice for his successor? "Hopefully, he or she will be able to implement the plans that I've already put in place," Yennerell said. "And I hope they stay the course and understand where this community wants to go."