BY MARIE McCAIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
WYOMING -- With his first week out of the way, City Manager Robert Harrison is easing into running this Hamilton County city.
Hired several months after the resignation of former City Manager Shari Haldeman, the 30-year-old Wisconsin native plans to create a city Web site and take an active role in several development projects. "I really want to get involved in the development of the former Kmart site on Springfield Pike, as well as construction of the new water plant," Mr. Harrison said Tuesday.
The only bump he's encountered so far is this area's local income tax of .7 percent.
"I've never worked in an area where there was a local tax. The differences in tax systems is going to take some getting used to," he said.
A graduate of Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Mr. Harrison cut his professional teeth as a management intern in Whitefish Bay, Wis., and then as the assistant city manager of Wauwatosa, Wis., a city of 50,000.
Prior to coming here he was the city manager of Mosinee, Wis., a city of 4,000 in north-central Wisconsin.
Most of his first days have been spent in meetings to finish the city's 1999 fiscal year budget for presentation to council.
"I'm just very pleased with the level of professionalism here," he said. "So many people have welcomed me. I'm really impressed with how warm this community has been."
Though scheduled to start Sept. 1, Mr. Harrison arrived Aug. 24 and replaced Interim City Manager David Foell, who returned his full attention to his job as a private consultant.
