Retiring Woodbury city administrator says over 21 years, he’s watched the city grow

What makes Woodbury special is its senior leadership gang and elected bureaucrats retiring City Administrator Clint Gridley noted It s one of the things he s the greater part proud of in his years of work in the city I m so thankful for the leadership because they set the tone Gridley revealed As the third and longest running city administrator in Woodbury s history Gridley is retiring from his official position Friday He describes the job as a unique opportunity in which he serves his area under the City Council as a non-partisan business entity Woodbury has a legacy of trust and ethical executive he announced it s expanding and never dull It s a little bit emotional because my profession is not a typical profession Gridley stated It really is for me a passion that s rooted in the love of good authorities and the arrangement of making things work Gridley has been responsible for overseeing daily operations management and city services Essentially he is there to ensure that Woodbury is operating well in a way that is pleasing to both its residents and members of city leadership Clint has the right balance of IQ and EQ thoughtful and extroverted planful while able to adjust to changing conditions circumstances Woodbury Mayor Anne Burt reported His intelligence and experience have suited him well to lead a large and still growing complex organization Burt pointed out that Gridley joined the city when Woodbury was under residents and has led its rise into a safe and thriving society of residents the seventh largest in the state As Woodbury continues to grow Gridley mentioned he hopes it will keep its small-town charm and be a place where society members know each other by name I believe the number one thing in a city is building relationships Gridley announced Resident surveys have shown a strong sense of trust in city council members and city staff according to Gridley He declared his position has served as a bridge between those residents and city administration understanding the wants demands and values of Woodbury s neighborhood and helping see that through on the strategy side I ve learned the art of appreciative inquiry and questions of trying to walk the path of a citizen and walk the path of an elected official and translate that for staff who are very operational and want to get things done Gridley declared History of civic engagement Gridley a baby boomer from Lake Bluff Ill revealed his parents met while his father served in World War II They were enthusiastic citizens who impressed on me the blessing we have in our freedoms and in this country Their civic engagement in Illinois cemented Gridley s current love of well-functioning ruling body and served as inspiration for his life s work Related Articles Obituary Col Thomas Simonet helped lead I- W bridge collapse response and umpire vintage baseball Woodbury City Council announces new city administrator Canadian wildfire smoke causes very unhealthy conditions in American Midwest and reaches Europe Ramsey County Board gets feedback on projects to be funded by Riverview Corridor money Ground is broken for next phase projects at St Paul s Highland Bridge I had this aspect of we re very fortunate where we live and the love of the principles of our country Gridley mentioned In college he studied political science and economics and commented he tried finding a place where the two came together which led him to intern with city authorities at be hired on full time at then become a city administrator in Wisconsin at When Gridley moved to Woodbury in he had four children under the age of and was caring for his elderly mother he disclosed Within his first year as city administrator new homes were built and the first years were a whirlwind he explained Where I ve grown is first of all in the knowledge of the population and second relationships Gridley noted Engaging the area Quality and intentional relationships that has been the driving force of Gridley s time in Woodbury he announced It s what has allowed the city to thrive expand and be forward-thinking he announced We ve been an ethical city Gridley commented We re very functional politically We are stewards of money land and guidance which means we re not owners We don t own this city we are its caretakers for the people When Woodbury formed in the district was not very culturally diverse Gridley noted It is becoming increasingly diverse what was once farmland for miles has become a bustling city with new businesses and housing types continuously in demand Census after census Woodbury s population of BIPOC individuals has increased he explained One of the preponderance impactful relationships Gridley has built over the years has been with the Multicultural Advisory Committee a group of helpers that advocates for marginalized and underrepresented communities in Woodbury The committee works closely with the city s law enforcement and was a pivotal influence after the murder of George Floyd in Gridley reported The committee and other organizations have made Woodbury more vibrant and connected Gridley mentioned Hennepin County Diversity Equity and Inclusion Department Manager Shawn Sorrell and Fellowship Church Pastor Tim Brewington are two leaders in the Multicultural Advisory Committee who Gridley explained have helped inform and change the city for the better I ve really gotten to know them Gridley commented When I see those two it s a hug not a handshake In up-to-date years the city of Woodbury has heavily leaned into district engagement and outreach Gridley announced through programs like One Woodbury and events for new residents That s been really meaningful to bring people closer to executive Gridley noted Particular of the most of valuable projects Gridley has worked on include the building of a permanent water-treatment plant to filter PFAS and sustain safe drinking water in the group the Metro Gold Line Central Park s renovation and Royal Oaks street and utility reconstruction he explained Gridley disclosed a lot of these projects which are under construction have made it complex for residents to get around the city which can be a pain but are for good reason He and his unit get things done so that neighborhood members can enjoy the city they live in for the long run he noted Next strategies Unfortunately there are multiple projects that Gridley won t be able to see come to fruition like the opening of the water-treatment plant the enhancement of a new community safety building and the reopening of Central Park in the fall because after retiring he and his wife will be moving to Wisconsin Gridley mentioned leaving his role as a city administrator brings up a mix of emotions When you live and you work and you worship and all in the same public and everyone knows you in that role it is hard to separate your life Gridley stated The hours are demanding and the administration meetings run late into the evening but he wouldn t have had it any other way This has been a fast-growing and very functioning society Gridley declared It s demanded a lot from me but I ve enjoyed every minute of it Several things he ll miss the bulk are the acres of park land and miles of trails he and his wife bike regularly easy access to retail amenities the abundance of function and nonprofit opportunities and his leadership group I struggle sometimes to leave Woodbury because I can do anything and everything I want to do right within the confines of the region Gridley disclosed Related Articles DOC commissioner asks for patience from Stillwater prison families dismisses idea of reopening Appleton prison Obituary Col Thomas Simonet helped lead I- W bridge collapse response and umpire vintage baseball Woodbury City Council announces new city administrator Felt as though they were going to kill me Mahtomedi man beaten and robbed of casino winnings says in court New Bush Foundation Fellows include amputee journalist architect more Gridley s life moving forward will allow for a slower pace one that he s excited for He ll also be closer to his favorite football organization which after years he s aware is controversial the Green Bay Packers The next city administrator will need to have the long term in mind Gridley noted All its past leaders have including the first mayor Orville Bielenberg That s what s made the city welcoming innovative and tight-knit My hope is that they bring their force Gridley stated They will need it to continue the legacy of trust and ethical good administration to build on relationships and serve for the long term