2008 Woodie Awards
New Hillsdale city manger to upgrade restaurant selection
Nick Tabor
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: News
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Downtown Hillsdale may soon boast new restaurants and stores after Hillsdale's new city manager, Michael "Mitch" Mitchell, has been a few years in office.
Mitchell, who took office on Sept. 1, previously served as Jonesville's village manager for seven years. He helped usher in Jonesville restaurants including The Saucy Dog, Chicago Water Grill and Marcella's (formerly The Gathering).
"I just knew from being in the area that the potential is here for the town to become really great," Mitchell said.
Rich Péwé, Hillsdale College's vice president of administration and a member of Hillsdale's city council, said Mitchell's familiarity with the city of Hillsdale was one of his biggest assets as a candidate for the position.
"He's got a great sense of what needs to be done downtown," Péwé said. "He has a proven record in Jonesville, and I would think that he wouldn't stray too far from what he knows there."
Mitchell filled the vacancy left by former manager Tim Vagle, who had been with the city for almost 10 years. Vagle resigned in January after voters passed a ballot initiative which attempted to force him out.
The city council appointed Linda Brown, assistant city manager, to serve in Vagle's position until they hired a new city manager.
The city offered Mitchell the position in June, but his employment contract with the city of Jonesville required him to wait 60 days after resigning to leave his position.
Mitchell said he was drawn to the position because he saw a need he thought he could fill.
"Because I knew most of the basic issues here, I thought, 'Maybe this is something I could get involved in, and potentially make a substantial difference'" he said, referring Hillsdale's lagging economy.
Mitchell said he previously worked as a village manager in Roscommon County and as the city manager of Leslie before moving to Jonesville.
"I've only learned, really, by doing," he said.
Mitchell, who took office on Sept. 1, previously served as Jonesville's village manager for seven years. He helped usher in Jonesville restaurants including The Saucy Dog, Chicago Water Grill and Marcella's (formerly The Gathering).
"I just knew from being in the area that the potential is here for the town to become really great," Mitchell said.
Rich Péwé, Hillsdale College's vice president of administration and a member of Hillsdale's city council, said Mitchell's familiarity with the city of Hillsdale was one of his biggest assets as a candidate for the position.
"He's got a great sense of what needs to be done downtown," Péwé said. "He has a proven record in Jonesville, and I would think that he wouldn't stray too far from what he knows there."
Mitchell filled the vacancy left by former manager Tim Vagle, who had been with the city for almost 10 years. Vagle resigned in January after voters passed a ballot initiative which attempted to force him out.
The city council appointed Linda Brown, assistant city manager, to serve in Vagle's position until they hired a new city manager.
The city offered Mitchell the position in June, but his employment contract with the city of Jonesville required him to wait 60 days after resigning to leave his position.
Mitchell said he was drawn to the position because he saw a need he thought he could fill.
"Because I knew most of the basic issues here, I thought, 'Maybe this is something I could get involved in, and potentially make a substantial difference'" he said, referring Hillsdale's lagging economy.
Mitchell said he previously worked as a village manager in Roscommon County and as the city manager of Leslie before moving to Jonesville.
"I've only learned, really, by doing," he said.
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