Page 3 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

The City of Wayne administrative team: Finance Director - Katie Sample, City Clerk - Tina Parnell - Community Development Director - Lori Gouin, DPS Director - Mike
Szuch, Fire Chief - Mike Stradtner, City Manager - Diane Webb, Police Chief - Ryan Strong, IT Director - Dennis Carino, Asst. DPW Director - Dave Schmidt, Personnel

Director - Alyse Leslie, and Confidential Assistant to City Manager - Rebecca Ferris. Photo by Stan Shelton
City of Wayne 2024 end of the year report

By Sarah Shurge and the Westland Youth Athletic As-
On Tuesday, December 19, 2023, sociation (WYAA) to create the
the city council selected Diane Webb Wayne-Westland Youth Athletic Asso-
as the new city manager. ciation (WWCYA).
Since then, her focus has been -Utilized Wayne County Park Mill-
improving the city of Wayne. age Dollars to renovate the conces-
“As long as I can be an asset to the sion/restroom building at Forest
city and continue to drive improve- Park to enable WWCYA teams to play
ments and increase quality of life in the city of Wayne.
here, I'm happy going to work every
day,” said Webb. Financial overview
“My administrative team is out- of the past year:
standing. They are all experienced, -Began the 2024 FY with a $1.2M
knowledgeable, and dedicated. They Budget Deficit and completed the FY
work well together and well with me. with a $746K General Fund Surplus.
We are all focused on moving the city Increased fund balance in the City’s
forward,” said Webb. “It's exciting General Fund from $8,768,153.00
and refreshing and one of the high- to $9,514,516.00.
lights working in Wayne is working Decommissioning the water reservoir in Goudy Park. -Long Term Debt is listed as a
with the level of professionals on my Webb has been city manager for out the project to decommission the challenge because the city must cur-
team.” 14 months now, so it’s important to water reservoir in Goudy Park. rently allocate $1,125,000 annually.
Szuch, Carino, and Ferris are all highlight the City of Wayne 2024 end Saved the city $43K by negotiating The city has continued to pay them
new to the team. of year report. release of former contract and rebid down and has not issued any addi-
“The fresh eyes are exactly what “The first year was an assessment design work. tional debt since 2021. Two of the
the city was missing,” said Webb. of where we were at, what's working, -Worked with the City Administra- city’s three bonds will be paid off by
Webb has a long and diverse ca- what's not working, what challenges tion, City Council, and DDA formed 2028. Reducing expenditures by
reer that has centered around the there are, removing obstacles so we a Community Engagement Team to $200,000.
city of Wayne. For the first 18 years can move forward. Laying the plans,” design and plan for the revitalization “Wayne has been struggling finan-
of her career, Webb worked in the said Webb. of Goudy Park that will be funded cially for at least a decade, it proba-
private sector. She was a technician So, with the start of a new year, through $2.27M in Grants from bly started 15 years ago. We’re not
in Wayne, she did customer service comes the start of a new plan. MEDC, HUD, Wayne County ARPA, out of the woods yet - it's a process
management, project management, “2025 is the implementation year. and the DDA RAP Grant. and it takes time, but we are moving
and community relations. The vision coming to life. The old go -Worked with DPW to remove aggressively into the future in a posi-
Webb served four years as a city away and the new being built. We dead trees and the growth of invasive tive way,” said Webb.
councilwoman in Garden City, 11 should see it happen over the next species that closed off the riverfront -City’s Bond Rating is still below
years on Wayne County Commission, two years,” said Webb. in Goudy Park from public view. investment grade and has been since
and did government relations with These efforts made the area safer 2016. That it is slowly and steadily
Wayne representatives. Here are some accomplishments while beautifying the park. improving.
“My first job was in Wayne and that have happened over the past -Restored youth baseball in the -Grant Dollars Received:
my last job will be in Wayne,” said year: city of Wayne by negotiating with
Webb. -Saved the city $1.6M by bidding leaders from both Wayne Baseball See City, page 12
The Wayne Dispatch · March 2025 · 3