City Welcomes New Public Works Director

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City Welcomes New Public Works Director
Interim Finance Director also confirmed

April 29, 2020

Yelm, WA—Last night Mayor Foster discussed with City Council and announced his decision to appoint Council member Cody Colt as the new Public Works Director for the City of Yelm.


CodyColt.2"As a fellow resident and member of the City Council, no one knows our community better than Cody,” said Mayor Foster.” His astute understanding of the opportunities and challenges of the department, combined with his first-hand experience in the military working with the most critical issues related to managing water reclamation facilities and technologies, as well as having a positive working relationship with city employees, makes him the best candidate to lead the Public Works Department.”

Colt is a life-long resident of Yelm who joined the military and served from 2002 to 2011 after graduating from Yelm High School. Colt gained significant leadership and technical experience through his service to our country as an Engineman First Class in the United States Navy. As an Assault Boat Engineer he worked in and led teams responsible for all mechanical and operational aspects of the most essential infrastructure of naval vessels, equipment, and facilities. After being Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Navy, he earned his undergraduate degree from San Diego State University and graduate degree from Saint Martin's University in Lacey, WA.

“I believe the city’s most important job is to focus on core services and infrastructure like water, sewer, and road systems for our residents,” said Colt. “I am excited for this opportunity to continue working with an exemplary team of employees and elected officials to help guide Yelm into the next decade by continuing to serve this incredible community my family calls home," said Colt.

Steve Clark has served as the interim Public Works director since the departure of Chad Bedlington last fall. Cody Colt will remain on the Council until he begins his new position with the City on May 1, 2020. The City Council has 90 days from Colt’s resignation to appoint a replacement for his seat.

“While his leadership on the council will be greatly missed, I can think of no better candidate for Mayor Foster to appoint to guide the Public Works Department into the future than Cody Colt,” said Councilmember Tad Stillwell. “Through his longstanding commitment and service to the community he has gained the respect and trust of Yelm’s residents, businesses, public workers, and elected officials. He will be able to hit the ground running and has the aptitude to grow into an incredible Public Works Director.”

Mayor Foster also informed Council of his decision to appoint Heidi MacDonald to the position of Finance Director for the City. MacDonald has served as the interim Finance Director and led the city in achieving its first clean audit from the State Auditor. She established and implemented strong internal financial controls for the Finance Department, integrated the operations of the Finance Department and the new Customer Service Team at the front counter of City Hall, and implemented the process guided by the City Administrator to provide more transparent and consistent financial information to all City Council members through regular financial reports. MacDonald and the management team are finalizing the city’s first long-term revenue forecast model which will help the City  Council make even more informed decisions as they set policy to guide the future of the city.