Coy to step down

Ortonville- Village Manager Ed Coy is retiring.
Coy announced his plans to step down after four years of overseeing the village during a special meeting with the council last week.
‘It’s time,? he said simply. ‘I think it’s the best thing for me.?
His retirement will be effective Sept. 30.
Coy, 64, came to the village in September 2005 from Indiana, where he was the president of the Roanoke town council.
The biggest challenges Coy said he has faced as the village manager has been the formation, oversight and then dissolution of the Department of Public Works union, represented by the Teamsters. The current economy has also presented problems for the village and Coy, with increasing costs and decreasing revenues.
‘Most municipalities and businesses are in the same boat,? he noted. ‘We’re trying to provide the same level of service without increasing taxes and maintain a balanced budget.?
The economy has caused the village to stall, Coy said, leaving it not moving in any direction; however, he believes that if the economy picks up and the village can get sewers installed, with proper planning the village could become a very nice area to live in.
‘What is holding the village back is a lack of sewers and good water,? Coy said. ‘The (lack of) is holding property values down.?
Coy has enjoyed talking and working with village residents and said the accomplishments he is most proud of include getting the master plan rewritten, ordinances codified, and ‘just being able to serve the folks in the village and help them on a day-to-day basis.?
In his retirement, Coy, who is married to Kathleen and resides in Grand Blanc, said he will enjoy his woodworking hobby and plans to possibly get a part-time job to stay busy.
‘We wish him well in his retirement years,? said Village Council President Ken Quisenberry, adding that the personnel committee is meeting to make a decision regarding hiring a new village manager.