Maricopa’s city manager settles into new digs

There’s a new manager in town, and he’s ready to get down to business.

Technically, Kevin Evans is the new city manager for Maricopa, but whether one refers to it as a city or town is less relevant to him than whether they recognize it as a place with a sense of community.

Considering the hyper growth Maricopa has experienced in recent years, Evans said he is impressed with the ability of the area’s residents to do just that.

“How does a community like this going through hyper growth have such a strong sense of community?” he said late Wednesday in an interview at his new office in City Hall.

Evans surmised that the influx of people probably came here for a reason, “probably for the sense of community that had already been around here for about 100 years.”

“You get what you seek,” he said.

Evans officially started his position on Tuesday although he had accepted the job before the end of the year. He and his family relocated to Maricopa over the weekend from Hunstville, Texas, where he spent four of his 31 years of experience as a city manager.

He brings with him his wife, Dawn Evans; and two children, Austin Evans, 17, and Carli Evans, 3. The brood is settling into a typical, one-story home which will be accessible to his 84-year-old mother who will spend four months with them each year.

Evans, while willing to reveal which neighborhood and subdivision in which he resides, said he is reticent to answer the question which has already popped up numerous times since Saturday.

“That’s the fastest way to destroy a sense of community, to identify yourself with your neighborhood instead of your community,” he said.

His preference would be to have everyone identify as fellow citizens of Maricopa, with common goals, common interests in one figurative, common back yard.

In Evans’ case, that yard is planted with green grass – both front and back – something one doesn’t often see in Maricopa but is well-suited for his 3-year-old. The home is a rental, and does not yet have a pool. But, someday, if he chooses to stay in the home, perhaps it will, he said.

There is no question, however, regarding Evans’ commitment to Maricopa. He’s known since he was 19 that in a city management position was where he wanted to be. He’s intrigued with the area, and ready for the change.

“This is a happening place, to use a phrase from the ’70s,” he said.

Of his first day, Evans said it felt like he’d been through a whirlwind.

“I mean, it was very fast,” he explained. “I met lots of people. I saw a lot of faces. I’ll work on the names.”

He also managed to work in a staff meeting with the former interim city manger, Roger Kolman, and the rest of the city players whom he’ll be working with frequently.

So far, he’s presented the City Council with a 100-day plan which will be in effect while he meets the citizens and familiarizes himself with the issues. He considers this style a comprehensive approach.

“I intend to immerse myself in the staff, Council and community, pretty much anybody who can tell me what they think,” he said.

From there, he will create and roll out a five-year strategic plan, which he said he will let the Council adjust as they see fit.

“Most of the plans are here,” he said. “The General Plan, and every division it has, everything has been done with a lot of public input, or the opportunity for public input. Who better to tell you who they want to be when they grow up as a city than the people who moved here for some reason?”

As for his top three issues, Evans said such a list would be entirely too short “for what we’re going to do.

“There are probably about a dozen issues,” he said.

Those include transportation, availability of medical services, the proposed redevelopment district, annexation and the feasibility of building an airport in the area, and then some. He expressed his confidence in those with whom he’ll work to tackle them.

“I’m very impressed with the staff,” he said. “So far, they have been very helpful and very knowledgeable about what they do.”

The city has announced plans to set up meet-and-greet sessions where residents can come and get to know Evans in person. The times, dates and locations will be published as they become available.

Photo by RuthAnn Hogue