The saddest thing for Staton to let go, though, is the city itself. Even so, the city manager feels like it’s time for him to move on.

After 850 council meetings, numerous discussions with city staff and university representatives, several city development projects and more than 16 years of service, Staton is ready to say goodbye.

One of the longest-running city managers in city history, Staton officially will take his leave Friday, and next week, will begin his new position as city manager of Upper Arlington, Ohio.

A long journey
When Staton first became city manager of East Lansing in the early ‘90s, it was a different place.

“It was an organization that wasn’t being viewed by the elected officials at the time as being particularly responsive to citizen needs and demands,” he said. “The city was landlocked, there was no growth, there was no way to increase the tax base — the infrastructure was decaying.”

In Staton’s mind, the only logical way to go was up. During a meeting with city officials near the beginning of his tenure, Staton gave what was known as the “crossroads” speech, in which he said the city should grow instead of staying at a standstill.

“I said, we can continue to manage decline each year, figuring out what less we are going to do for the people of East Lansing, or we could take a bolder path and grow our way out of the problems the city faced at the time,” Staton said.

Under Staton’s watch, East Lansing’s land area increased by almost one-third and population increased by about 4 percent. Some development projects meant to revitalize the downtown, such as City Center I, were completed, and others, such as City Center II, remain at a standstill.

“Along the way, we made our fair share of mistakes, and we stumbled a few times,” Staton said.
“But I think a lot of cities in Michigan have taken that other path, where they’re just going to manage decline.”

University connections
Managing East Lansing gave Staton his shares of opportunities and challenges, including the unique prospect of educating a new crop of residents attending MSU each year.

Although relations between the city and the university have had ups and downs, Staton said he felt things generally have improved during his time.

“We didn’t lob too many grenades across Grand River Avenue — we might have had disagreements with the university, but we rolled up our sleeves and figured it out,” Staton said.

The sentiment is shared on the side of the university, MSU Director of Community Relations Ginny Haas said.

“Over the years, the (city’s) relationship with the university has greatly improved — certainly part of this has been because of Ted,” Haas said.

Staton also developed groups such as the University Student Commission and the Community Relations Coalition in an attempt to get MSU students more involved with important city decisions.

As community liaison for ASMSU and a member of the USC and CRC, Paddy La Torre, an international relations senior, is one student who’s had extensive experience in dealing with city officials.

In La Torre’s mind, Staton’s open approach to addressing student issues and concerns was crucial, and the direct communication was vital in discussions relevant to students, including recent discussions on party litter ordinances and the choice of East Lansing’s police chief.

Though most students didn’t to get to know Staton on a personal level during his tenure, La Torre said the reach and impact of his work as city manager will continue to affect current and prospective students for many years to come.

“Even if students have not met him one-on-one, they have come into contact with the work he’s done,” La Torre said.

Challenges and criticisms
East Lansing’s next city manager will have a fair share of challenges, including the development project known as City Center II.

The $97 million project, championed by Strathmore Development Co. President Scott Chappelle, would bring a new development to the corners of Grand River and Evergreen avenues and Abbot Road. The project has seen a myriad of financial struggles, and the project still has not produced a cohesive financial plan.

Staton said he wishes he could have seen the project through.

“We have this 5-and-a-half-acre development in the downtown that would just be a game changer if it could be brought over the finish line,” Staton said. “I’m disappointed that I wasn’t able to do that during my tenure.”

Some residents, including East Lansing resident Eliot Singer, are highly critical of his actions in regard to this project and others.

“He’s cost the city a lot of money with high-in-the-sky development projects,” Singer said. “I see him as arrogant and self promoting and unwilling to look (at city projects) objectively.”

Other challenges include continuing state cuts and a softening real estate market, Staton said, but he hopes the new city manager will be capable enough to overcome these issues.

A bittersweet goodbye
In the eyes of many city officials, Staton has left a significant mark on the city of East Lansing — not only on city practices, but on the people he’s worked with for so long.

To Councilmember Nathan Triplett, Staton has been a professional and helpful to the growth of the city, particularly during the trying financial decisions the city has gone through as of late.

“Ted Staton is not the kind of person who thinks small — he thinks big about the city of East Lansing, and that’s served us well over the last 16 years,” Triplett said. “Ted has exceeded all the goals we’ve set with him. … I’m sorry to see him go.”

For city employees, the loss is a sad one, but the workplace atmosphere and the long-term goals Staton has worked toward will be continued in his absence, City Clerk Marie McKenna said.

“Whoever is competing for that job is really going to have to bring it. … Ted has set the bar high,” McKenna said. “The culture of the organization, and a good number of people who are in it, are Ted’s best legacy, and we are going to carry that forward even after he goes.”