Mayor Clive Tolley will miss city manager Jim Puffalt when the latter retires next year, especially since they have worked closely during the past year on several projects.
“Well, it’s a bit emotional for me … . We’ve done a lot together. We have still some things we want to accomplish,” the mayor said during a recent media scrum.
“In the midst of celebrating Jim’s retirement, there’s some solace. I know he’s not likely to leave till May. And so there’s a lot of projects we’re in mid-stream that we want to see completed before he leaves … . He’s been in this industry for over 40 years and he’s accomplished a great deal.”
City manager since 2018
Puffalt announced his retirement at the beginning of city council’s Oct. 24 regular meeting.
He has been the city manager since 2018. He started his career as the town administrator in Elrose nearly 40 years ago, while he later became city manager for the cities of North Battleford and Estevan.
It is likely that Puffalt’s retirement announcement is not a surprise for anyone who reads the personnel committee reports.
Puffalt has not attended a personnel committee meeting since March 29.
Ongoing projects
Developing the agri-food industrial park continues to be Puffalt’s focus considering it’s a big part of Moose Jaw’s economic future, Tolley said. In particular, since he started in 2018, the city manager has been working to attract a major employer in the agricultural/food services industry.
Meanwhile, city council and city hall are hoping to see the completion of Donald’s Fine Food’s sow processing plant at the former XL Beef Plant.
The plant’s opening could occur next spring.
That business, along with the expansion of Brandt Industries, could attract up to 500 jobs during the next two years, Tolley said.
Council will start looking for a new city manager quickly, the mayor added. While Puffalt could leave sooner than May 6, 2023 — he would have to give two months’ notice — he is committed to finishing up outstanding projects.
With a laugh, Puffalt said he would miss the regular media scrum and the opportunity to engage in discussion with reporters — especially Robert Thomas of the MJ Independent.
“We appreciate that you (Thomas) always have some hard-hitting questions and we always try to answer them. Yeah, we appreciate the relationship we’ve built,” Puffalt remarked. “We’re not best buds, but it is what it is.”
The one memory that sticks out for the city manager is his first week on the job and having to deal with the condition of High Street West. A decision was required that Friday, so he and city administration took a position on handling that road.
“That probably (sticks) in my mind because it was just a chance to sit down and get at it and go,” he added.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Nov. 14.
