MauryTHINKS

MT. PLEASANT — The city will usher in a new era Thursday as Richard Goode assumes the duties of city manager for Mt. Pleasant.

“It’s been a luxury getting to meet everybody I’ll be getting to work with,” Goode said Wednesday. “It’s going to be very exciting.”

For nearly a year commissioners searched for someone to replace former city manager Bob Murray who retired June 30. Debbie McMullin, Murray’s former assistant, has served as interim city manager since June 27.

McMullin was initially selected by city commissioners to fill the position until a replacement could be found. After several interview proceedings and at least three candidates selected for the job withdrew their names from consideration, commissioners hired Goode.

“I sure am looking forward to tomorrow,” McMullin said Wednesday. “I believe he is going to be great for the city.”

McMullin said the transition will be fairly quick and she would resume her former position in the accounts payable department for the city.

City Commissioner Bob Shackelford said it would be interesting to see how things play out.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” he said. “He seems like a man of a lot of energy and get up and go. He’s going to need it with the problems he’s facing.”

Goode will tackle city issues plaguing the city including an incomplete wastewater treatment lagoon system, an outdated water system and a need to revitalize the downtown district. He said the first priority is getting a budget draft completed for the City Commission meeting in May.

“I’m going to be getting acquainted with all of the details of the city, which Debbie has done a great job getting together,” Goode said.

Goode is from Castle Rock, Colo., and grew up in Paducah, Ky. He has worked many years in real estate dealing with multi-million dollar shopping mall developments, and was senior vice president for LaSalle Partners Inc. one of the world’s largest real estate firms, according to his resume.

He gave commissioners what he called an “aggressive” 90-day plan which includes a personnel assessment and addressing concerns with the city’s key interests including downtown.

“The first couple of weeks he’s going to have to get used to his surroundings,” McMullin said. “I think he’s well aware of what his problems are going to be.”

Shackelford said he’s optimistic about the future with Goode at the helm.

“I have a lot of hope and confidence in him. It’s a crap-shoot, a shot-in-the-dark, but we’re going to give him a chance,” he said.

Goode said he was excited and was anxious to get started.

“It’s about getting down to serious business,” he said.

By CHRIS GRAHAM/chrisgraham@c-dh.net