Many careers in one city hall: want to work to make your community a better place to live? Whatever your interest, city hall probably has a job for you

Career World, Oct, 2004 by Nathan Lichtman

Hubbard Avenue is a peaceful, tree-lined street in the middle of downtown Middleton, Wis. (population 16,000). As the main street downtown, it's home to upscale restaurants, a cozy diner, the city's historical museum, the public library, and the glue that holds Middleton together--city hall.

Middleton is the kind of city where you can pass someone on the street and say hello without getting an odd look. Perhaps that's why Middleton's nickname is "The Good Neighbor City." While visitors and residents enjoy all the city has to offer, officials at city hall are hard at work, making certain that the city is running smoothly and that Middleton remains a wonderful place to call home.

City or town hall is the epicenter of every community. Middleton is no exception. Skilled professionals from many backgrounds work under one roof to do everything from planning the layout of city expansion to keeping parks and public spaces beautiful and making sure that the city's newest office buildings are structurally sound.

Middleton's city government includes 19 departments, a full-time city administrator, a mayor, and a city council that meets regularly. Middleton is a small city, but each job is no less important than it would be in a large city. Because Middleton's mayor is employed only part-time, city administrator Mike Davis is responsible for much of the day-to-day business of the city.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR: Running the City Smoothly

It's 10 a.m. and Davis is trying to sell a train from a failed city business venture. The excursion train never really caught on in Middleton, as it offered only one destination. The train service ended, and Davis and the city have been trying to get out of their lease and sell the train.

Selling a train might sound stressful to some people. For Davis, though, it's just another day on the job he loves. Davis is Middleton's highest-paid official--and for good reason. Working with the mayor, he is responsible for keeping the city and its business in order.

Davis has a lot of weight on his shoulders, but his education and experience prepared him for his role. After earning a bachelor's degree in public administration at Indiana University and a master's degree in public affairs and a law degree from the University of Texas, Davis began his climb up the career ladder.

"My primary roles [in Middleton] are to coordinate and communicate among department heads of this city to solve problems, as well as to be the personnel officer for the city and play a strong role with economic development and long-term planning issues," he says.

On this day, in addition to trying to sell the train, Davis has planned a meeting to discuss a new fire station with a city administrator from a neighboring town. Later, he'll meet with a real estate developer about land that the city would like to purchase for public safety operations. "I love the variety of work. No two days are the same," Davis says.

PLANNING DIRECTOR: Building a Vision of the City

Before any new construction happens in Middleton, planning and zoning director Eileen Kelley needs to give her nod of approval. Kelley, who has a bachelor's degree in planning and a master's in business administration, makes sure that all new construction in Middleton follows the regulations the city has set forth. Kelley and members of the planning commission set limits on what each piece of property can be used for and what kinds of standards must be followed. All new business projects in the city need to go to the planning commission and be reviewed for issues of design and landscaping, so Kelley has a strong role in shaping the look of Middleton. "You get to be involved in so many aspects," Kelley says. "You look at engineering issues, architecture, and transportation ... it's really exciting."

Although planners can work at the local, state, and federal level, Kelley chose local government because it offered her an opportunity to see real results. "What I like about the local level is that you can help shape something. You actually see it," she says. Her input on each project can affect the community for years to come. Kelley has been involved in the details of Middleton's downtown redevelopment project and the construction of a new, 325,000-square-foot shopping, dining, and entertainment area complete with walkways, gardens, a courtyard, and a 60-foot clock tower.

RECREATION DIRECTOR: Keeping Middleton at Play

In a much different city role, recreation director Larry Witt is in charge of organizing active, fun programs for Middleton's residents. Witt, who holds a bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, has spent the past 25 years working in Middleton's recreation department.

In addition to planning programs, creating a budget, and making sure the programs are running smoothly, Witt oversees program registration and the hiring of coaches, lifeguards, referees, and instructors. Witt also oversees the city's outdoor aquatic center, which includes a pool, two waterslides, a sand volleyball court, and a sand playground.