Wayne West, City Administrator award winner

Wayne West, City Administrator at Deerfield, is the recipient of the 2009 “City Administrator of the Year” Award.

West has been employed by the city for nearly 30 years. Over that period, he has overseen improvements to the city’s water, wastewater, storm sewer, streets, and more. In one of the first projects, he enlisted local contractors to install curb and guttering in sections of the town; he made it affordable, completing the project over several years at substantial cost savings compared to the estimates. Next, improvements had to be made to the wastewater treatment plant. Two new lagoons were constructed; land for a third was obtained in case a third cell would be needed in the future. This award winner has worked to reduce costs for various developments in the city, notably one that allowed utilities and streets to be installed for a new convenience store and 30 families. Water issues have always been important; he was the first municipal representative of the area Groundwater Management District. Street paving became a priority in the early 90’s.

Looking back, West says that growing up in Deerfield he was a frequent source of aggravation for the city manager who was also the City Marshall, so it is a little ironic that he would one day serve in the same capacity.  Wayne was elected to the Deerfield City Council in April 1981. He asked so many questions that the governing body asked him to take the City man’s position that was open.  He thought about it, resigned from the governing body and went to work full time November 1, 1981 as City Superintendent.  He’s been there ever since.