When City Managers blog….

So, how many do you think there are? Personally, I thought a couple, maybe a hundred.  A very unscientific search on Google listed 174,000 results.  While there can’t possibly be 174,000 City Manager blogs (maybe this is the number that contain the word “City Manager”) this is an extraordinary count. So what do City Managers write about? Is it all budget and taxes? Solid waste contracts? Snow removal schedules? Lets take a look…

The City Manager blogs for Lowell, MA (http://lowellma.wordpress.com/), and West Des Moines, IA (http://wdmcitymanager.blogspot.com/) are primarily focused on municipal announcements.  I particularly like the Mt. Juliet, TN City Manager Blog from City Manger Randy Robertson (http://citymanagerreport.blogspot.com/) which is more like a community newspaper column, and starts many of his entries with a synopsis of the local weather.  The blog for Rogers City, MI recently announced the Hentkowski Funeral Home Ribbon Cutting (http://rogerscity.com/blog/).  The City of Eden Prarie, MN has several blogs on their site – The City Manager blogs, the Fire Chief blogs, the Police Department blogs and the City Liquor Store has a blog.  Yes, the City Liquor Store (http://edenprairieweblogs.org/liquor/)

So, you have a blog, what do you do with it? City Manager Tim Zisoff from Indianola, IA (http://indianolacitymanagerblog.blogspot.com/) is a fairly regular contributor to his blog, while City Manager Rick Cole of Ventura, CA is probably the most active and has been blogging since 2006 (http://www.cityofventura.net/cmblog/).  According to several sources the cardinal sin of blogging is setting one up and not using it like Blaine, WA (http://www.blaineman.typepad.com/) or Newberg, OR (http://www.newbergoregon.gov/citymanager/city-manager-blog).

Have a great weekend. 


Eric Middleton