Camp Verde Town Manager Russ Martin has officially been on the job for a little over a week, and he says he’s getting a feel for the office.
One of the first things he did was get rid of the television in his office.
“I really don’t need that type of distraction,” Martin said.
The television was used to watch certain work-related media, but Martin said he felt it would be more useful to the town’s municipal court.
Martin has also been making the rounds to introduce himself.
“I’ve been taking a lot of ‘windshield’ tours,” Martin said. “It’s been interesting to meet people around town and see how things have fared in the current economy. I’ve been learning how things are in the community and looking at where we could be.”
Martin was recently hired on by the Camp Verde Town Council to take the top town job. He started work Aug. 9. Martin replaces former Town Manager Mike Scannell, who resigned earlier this year to take a position in Chino Valley. Town Marshal Dave Smith served as interim town manager until the council selected Martin from dozens of applicants.
Prior to moving to Camp Verde, Martin served as town manager in Hayden since March 2004. While there, he helped oversee a major revision of town codes, something Camp Verde is currently undertaking. Martin also saw the town through two critical tax issues and helped deal with what he described as difficult human resources issues.
Prior to working in Hayden, Martin worked as a planner in the town of Miniturn, Colo., and as a regional planner in Richfield, Utah.
Martin holds a bachelor’s degree in city and regional planning from New Mexico State University and a master’s degree in human resource management from Utah State University, which he earned in 2001.
Martin said he’s been impressed by the work of the town’s employees, and recognizes they’ve kept things running.
“I realize morale is low in some areas,” Martin said. “But there’s a level of excitement for long-term planning. I told them that hopefully,I’ll be here long enough to make mistakes and learn to correct them … I’m prepared to make the commitments of time and energy to this job.”
Martin said he hopes the town’s residents are also as willing and enthusiastic to move toward the future.
Martin really does hope to stick around. He’s already moved his family into a local home and enrolled his young children, ages 6 and 7, in school. Martin said he’s started to look at homes in town to purchase.
Meanwhile, Martin said he’s going to continue working as hard as he can and work out the kinks that come along with getting used to any new job.
“I want to make a positive difference as soon as possible,” Martin said. “I think that’s what the council that hired me expects.”
