BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
MASON -- Forging closer ties to city residents is a priority for Eric Hansen, Mason's new assistant city manager.
The 28-year-old Idaho native, who spent two years as an administrative assistant in Mason City Hall, plans to meet with residents and homeowners associations and learn their concerns.
He replaced Patrick Ibarra, who left July 2 to become city manager of Port Angeles, Wash., a community of 19,000. Mr. Hansen began his new job Monday, and will make $45,000 a year.
"I think our residents are involved and interested," Mr. Hansen said. "I think you can always do more to improve that access. (My) job is to be more creative and more proactive in how we provide them access to their city (officials).
"In a city that's growing as fast as Mason, it's important to keep residents involved," he said. "I want to use all the creativity that the city can to reach to them and to give them improved, more access."
In his previous city job, Mr. Hansen assisted in preparing applications for state and federal grants. The city has received Community Development Block Grants for various projects and Issue 2 money for major infrastructure improvements.
Mr. Hansen expects to continue working on those issues, he said. "He will be responsible for labor union contract negotiations, coordinate citizen communication, technology oversight, risk management and working with me on various policy issues," said Mason City Manager Scot Lahrmer. "He will fit nicely into the assistant city manager's slot."
Like much of Warren County, the second-fastest growing of Ohio's 88 counties, Mason's population has boomed in recent years. The city now has 17,500 residents and 105 city employees. Keeping up with that growth will be a challenge for city leaders, Mr. Hansen said.
"I think we have excellent services right now," he said. "The challenge is to maintain the quality of those."
In his previous job, Mr. Hansen was involved with city publications, chaired the employee safety committee, was active in grant administration, and was involved with the city's risk management pool.
"A lot of the duties he's been involved with, he brings to the position," said Mr. Lahrmer.
Mayor Betty Davis said Mr. Hansen's experience with the city helped make him an attractive candidate as Mr. Ibarra's replacement. "Eric has been directly involved in all of the various aspects of this job in one way or another," she said. "He'll be able take over that position with relative ease."
Mr. Hansen has a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in public administration from Brigham Young University. He and his wife, Melissa, have a daughter, Katherine, 2. The family lives in Landen.
"I really want to grow into this job," he said.
