McKenna also will maintain her role as assistant city manager, in addition to the city clerk responsibilities — a move that will eliminate one city position, saving the city about $75,000, Staton said.

The shift will come just before November’s city council election, where McKenna will be responsible for overseeing key parts of the election process — an aspect of the job McKenna said is her main focus and challenge right now.

“In some ways, it’s a good election for a new clerk to cut their teeth on,” Staton said, noting the coming election — which usually has a low turnout — will help prepare her for next year’s presidential election.

Evans said she formed a list of written procedures to assist McKenna in her transition, in addition to a pre-election task list.

The move has been in the works for about a month, McKenna said, when city officials first realized the possibility that Evans might vacate her position.

“I agree it’s going to be a challenge,” McKenna said. “It’s not going to be easy, but we all realize we need to do this.”

McKenna said her long-term focus will remain forging a positive connection between the MSU student body and the city of East Lansing.

“Maintaining my relations with MSU, and the students in particular, will remain my priority,” McKenna said.

McKenna has a history of collaborating with students on city affairs. As a staff liaison to the University Student Commission — a student board that gives input on and proposes city policy decisions — she played a key role in shaping revised party litter and snow removal ordinances, both of which are slated to take effect this fall after more than a year of development.

Both McKenna and Evans will assume their new positions Sept. 1, and a formal swearing-in ceremony will be held at the council’s Sept. 6 meeting.