New city manager eyeing early-October start

Ed Meece wants to roll up his sleeves and get to work.

The 53-year-old Kentucky native who planted roots in Montana nearly 15 years ago isn’t interested in taking his time transitioning to his new job as Polson’s next city manager.

The Polson City Commission voted unanimously to hire Meece during its Sept. 9 meeting, which the city’s new hire was able to attend remotely from Bozeman via Zoom. During the meeting commissioners learned that Meece had set a goal of beginning work as early as Oct. 1.

“It will be an honor to serve the city of Polson in this way,” Meece said prior to the vote.

“Welcome to Polson, Mr. Meece,” Mayor Paul Briney declared just minutes later after the vote.

Police Chief Wade Nash has been leading the city as interim city manager since former city manager Mark Shrives stepped down in October 2018. He initially expected to serve as interim city manager for about one year.

“We’re one month shy of two years,” Nash said, prompting laughter from commissioners.

Meece, who was Livingston’s city manager from 2006 to 2015, will make $84,000 per year with a vehicle allowance of $200 per month. His initial contract is for two years.

Meece was selected as the city’s preferred candidate during a July 28 special meeting, and a negotiations committee was formed with Commissioners Lou Marchello, Brodie Moll and Tony Isbell, along with Finance Officer Cindy Dooley.

“It’s been an interesting process and I enjoyed it,” he said late last week during a phone interview. “Now I’m ready for the next phase and to get to work.”

He and his wife, Karen, were married in 1989, and she’s worked as a kindergarten and primary school teacher for more than 30 years.

“It’s been a real calling for her,” Ed Meece said.

Prior to serving as Livingston’s city manager, he earned a Master of Public Administration at Northern Kentucky University. Before that, he graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a bachelor of arts in political science.

“I enjoy working for small, local government. It’s my niche, my career strength.”

He said he and his wife, along with their son, Edison, have been through town many times, primarily for youth soccer events

“Polson is such a great community. We’ve been through many times, and always enjoyed those trips. It was a no-brainer that it would be a place we would be interested in moving to.”

He’ll have a full plate on that first day, but he said he’s eager to learn more and to contribute wherever and whenever he can.

“My focus will be a whole lot of learning and listening to stakeholders both internally and externally.”