Centralia City Manager Kory Smith publicly resigned at the city council’s last meeting in December. Smith will be leaving city hall on January 3, 2025, and returning to private law practice.
WJBD sat down with Smith to talk about his time as city manager. Smith took the job in April 2022, and since then has had a part in several major projects in Centralia.
“I set my sights on the water plant, the raw water line, the comprehensive plan, revising the personnel manual, hiring department heads, establishing a distinguished budget, park improvements, initiating and installing airport rules and regulations, revamping our out-of-date website,” Smith said. “Finishing the Gragg Street project, initiating a sidewalk plan, finalizing a road project for Sunset, furthering the overpass project south of town, continuing our demos throughout the city of Centralia, continuing the TIF and starting the process of TIF extension for downtown, and continuing and improving our water contracts with satellite communities.”
Smith said he has thoroughly enjoyed working with the mayor and city council and has confidence in his successor, Galen Mahle. He has also enjoyed interacting with members of the community at city council meetings and city events.
Asked what Centralia needs to focus on going forward, Smith said the city needs to continue its aggressive pursuit of grant funding.
“Continue being aggressive with grants, receiving grants both for our infrastructure projects and other initiatives throughout town,” Smith said. “From when I started in 2022 until now, when brought in at or just a little over four million dollars in grants, and we have another three (million) on the table that we have applied for that will hopefully come in after I’m gone.”
City Clerk Kim Enke will perform the duties of city manager following Smith’s departure until Mahle’s contract begins on January 21.
