New year, new city manager

The City of Mesquite is starting the new year with a new city manager, Becca Schrupp. She began her position with the city in the middle of December and jumped right in, showing up at city events and getting to know everyone.

Schrupp came to Mesquite from Morris, Minnesota, where she was city manager for two years. She also spent six and a half years as city administrator in Camby, Minnesota. Schrupp said she applied for the position before she had even seen Mesquite. Her parents live in Bullhead City and assured her Mesquite was a lovely town.

Schrupp is a single mom of two boys and one girl. Her daughter is finishing out her senior year in Minnesota, and her 13-year-old is in middle school here. Her 19-year-old is in the Air National Guard and will be going to UMD in the fall. Schrupp said, “My son and I both like warm weather. Looking forward to summer.”

When asked what seems to be different in Mesquite than she was expecting, she answered, “The fact that all the city department heads work so well together, and the one thing that has surprised me the most is that this community has so many volunteers. It is so wonderful that so many people are willing to share their time for their community!”

Schrupp said, “Right now I am learning about the city, its people and their long-term plans. I will base my goals on what I learn. City Council meetings are a little different than what I am used to. We did not have tech-review meetings to set agendas, and we could add and subtract items at council meetings. Public comment is allowed more than I am used to, but here we get to hear more of what the public is thinking.”

When making city decisions, Schrupp said, “I keep the long-term health of the city and the views of the majority of the people in mind.”

Schrupp wants citizens to know that she is a friendly person and open to hearing their views. Even if she does not agree with someone on an issue, she will consider their opinion.