Kevin Welch leaving position as city manager for move to Ann Arbor

At some point this July, Tecumseh City Manager Kevin Welch will be stepping down from his position after 11 years. He announced to council Monday his resignation and that he will be leaving sometime mid-July. Welch said he is not unhappy with his job and nobody has asked him to leave.“It’s bittersweet,” Welch said. “It’s one of those decisions that takes a long time to make. I’ve wanted to do something different for a little while — not that I am unhappy — but I am of the age now where if I am going to do something different now is the time to do it before it’s too late. It’s an opportunity for the city to grow and for me to grow.”Welch told council he would be moving to the Ann Arbor area for family considerations.“It’s an opportunity for us to start something new and different, and it also requires we relocate,” he said. “Tecumseh is just a wonderful place to live and work. Our kids grew up here. They were babies when we moved here, so we have many good memories here and made a lot of good friends. The community was very good to us. We’re not dying to leave.”Welch said while he hasn’t made a decision on where he will be working next, he said he certainly would not be unemployed. He added he has a few options available to him and whatever he does decide to do would be different from his role as Tecumseh’s city manager.Credit for what Tecumseh is today was a collaborative effort between elected officials, department heads and all the people that work for the City of Tecumseh, Welch said. He added that he is proud to have worked with city employees and city department heads. “The city runs pretty much like a fine watch,” Welch said. “Whether I am here or not, it runs pretty well. That’s all because of the department heads. They all just do a phenomenal job. We don’t have any slackers. It’s just a great group of employees.” During his time as city manager, Welch said he is also proud of the Classic Car and Bike Show that is held from May to September. “That was kind of my baby,” Welch added. “I still enjoy that. Those little things that make Tecumseh a great place for people to come to visit are the things that are the most fun, the most rewarding, and you can physically see the results of it.“The budget is kind of boring and you got to do it,” Welch continued. “It’s not one of the most fun things to do in the world.”Welch said the saddest moments in his tenure was laying off employees during the economic downturn and the complete departure of Tecumseh Products. He said he wished he could have landed a business at the Tecumseh Business and Technology Campus.Going forward, Welch said council will likely look internally for an interim or permanent city manager before conducting an outside search. “It would make an easy transition,” Welch said. “But sometimes it takes a little spicing up to take the next step and I think it’s time for that to happen. And I think there are some good people here to make that happen.” Welch said he would help council and his replacement with the transition in any way possible. Welch began his career as Tecumseh’s fifth city manager in 2004, after spending four years as Allen Park’s city manager. “I learned a lot here as the city manager,” Welch said. “Things I would not have done at a bigger city took place here. It was a very rewarding experience. The community has been very good to me and I am very thankful for everything its provided to myself and my family, and my career.”

Tecumseh Herald

 

110 E. Logan St.
P.O. Box 218
Tecumseh, MI 49286
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