MichiganRadio

A New City Manager For Grand Rapids GRAND RAPIDS, MI (Michigan Radio) - Commissioners in Grand Rapids have picked a new city manager.

Greg Sundstrom beat his former boss for the city's top administrative job.

Sundstrom has worked for the city of Grand Rapids for nearly three decades. He's been in charge of more than a dozen city departments.

Sundstrom calls the city manager appointment a dream come true. But in the midst of a terrible economy, it has a downside.

"There are many tough decisions," he says. "I don't think our city will look the same - our city organization - will look the same next year as it does this year."

Sundstrom had been serving as the acting deputy city manager for Eric DeLong. Both men were finalists for the job of city manager.

With Sundstrom's appointment, the former deputy will become the boss, and the former boss will become the deputy.

Grand Rapids mayor George Heartwell says he's confident it will be a smooth transition.

"I know that's difficult," he says of the role reversals. "But we've got two quality people who care about this city, who are committed to this city, and they're going to work that out. So I'm not concerned about that."

Sundstrom says he'll do everything he can to keep DeLong from leaving the city. DeLong says he plans to stay until further notice. And he brushes aside thoughts that the transition could be awkward.

"We've had very few awkward moments," DeLong says. "We work well together. We knew each other and were colleagues for a very long time. So I think we have a good relationship."

DeLong says he started moving out of the city manager's office just minutes after the vote.

He and his new boss will face plenty more tough tasks ahead as the city tries to maintain its services in a slow economy.

Contact Dustin Dwyer at dtdwyer@umich.edu

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