Michelle Stenger is the new Big Rapids Community Development Director, replacing Paula Priebe, who resigned in December 2022.
Pioneer photos/Cathie CrewBIG RAPIDS — Michelle Stenger is no stranger to the Big Rapids area. She has worked for the Mecosta County Building and Zoning department for 11 years, but recently her role changed.
Stenger resigned her position with the county to accept the position of community development director for the city, following the resignation of Paula Priebe.
Stenger said her education is in urban planning, and the role of community development director offers a better way for her to apply that knowledge.
“I did a lot of enforcement with the county and did not get to do a whole lot of planning and development type work,” Stenger said. “I was looking for a change and a way to be able to use my degree a little bit more.”
Although Stenger is still getting used to all the roles and responsibilities of the position, she plans to pick up where Priebe left off on many of the projects the department has in progress.
“Right now, I am getting acclimated to the Redevelopment Ready Communities program and what that is all about,” she said. “A lot of the plans that were going on are a part of the RRC program, and we are going to continue to move forward to becoming RRC certified."
The first thing she will be working on, she said, will be the city’s Master Plan. They are doing a request for proposal for a consulting firm to help them through that process.
“We are looking to update the city’s master plan this summer,” Stenger said. “Once the master plan is done, we will be looking at the zoning ordinances to update those and any changes that need to happen to reflect what the master plan states, as well as changes that the community needs or wants to see."
“Part of the RRC (certification) will involve revamping the city codes, as well, and that is why we are putting that on hold for now to see where the Master Plan leads us and what changes will be recommended through the Master Plan,” she said. “I will be looking at what her (Priebe's) recommendations were and try to iron them out with the Master Plan and the RRC program and see what we come up with.”
Another project in the works that Stenger will have a role in is the construction of the skate park at Swede Hill Park.
“That will likely be Heather Bowman with DPW and me,” she said. “Flora (Sermon, city grant coordinator) is working on a grant application right now to seek some funding for that project. Hopefully, we will be able to move that forward.”
Although not originally from here, Big Rapids is her home, Stenger said. She and her husband both grew up in small towns and love the atmosphere of the Big Rapids area.
“This is our home, and we are here for the long haul,” she said. “I think, in the past, people that held this position were not necessarily permanent, so I think that will bring a different perspective to the position.
“I want this to be a great community for our children to grow up in and live in,” she continued. “It already has a great atmosphere and lots of things to do to bring kids and families out and I would like to expand on that.”
She plans to consult the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and look for projects that can add fun and interesting things to do in the city, including trying to bring a theatre back to town.
“One thing I have learned so far is that there is a lot of teamwork in the community,” Stenger said. “Everyone seems to do a good job to try to make things happen, and I am sure I will be part of implementing any of the projects that come up.”
