Richard D. Giroux City Manager City Administration Building 126 South Seventh Avenue P. O. Box 818 Wauchula, Florida 33873 863-773-3535 office 863-773-0773 fax citymgr@cityofwauchula.com

Mission Statement:

My mission as city manager is to implement the vision and will of the City Commission and give shape and action to their policies and goals. To provide supportive leadership, creating an environment in which the Commission, all employees and the community, working together, can use their abilities to the fullest extent to meet the City of Wauchula’s current needs and to plan for our future challenges.

Duties and Responsibilities:

A city manager is appointed by the City Commission to act as the chief executive officer of the city administration, responsible for carrying out the direction of the City Commission through the administration and coordination of city operations, resources and assets, which includes:

• Supporting the Commission with timely and complete information and advice;
• Insuring that effective and efficient services are provided to meet community needs;
• Supporting resident involvement in actions which affect them an the community;
• Responding in a timely manner to requests for service
• Preparing a draft annual city budget with options for Commission review;
• Meeting with citizen groups to understand their needs better;
• Providing executive leadership that encourages good performance by city personnel;
• Operating the city with a professional understanding of how all city functions operate together to best effect.
• Develop short and long range strategic planning and development strategies for the City’s future.

Current Objectives:

Since 2005, the City of Wauchula has been pursuing a new strategic plan and administrative agenda, and has determined that there is a critical need to implement and facilitate community development, community promotion, growth and management initiatives to take advantage of current and pending population shifts and development trends.  Basically, by utilizing a three-prong approach:

• Develop the necessary infrastructure to attain, support and maintain our goals.
• Develop and promote the City and its amenities as an attractive investment location and  “the place to be” when the requisite infrastructure is in place.
• To control and nurture the shape and content of the growth and development while maintaining the City’s integrity and heritage.

This planned approached was designed to specifically address what the Wauchula City Commission has outlined as the City’s key objectives:

• Address the spectrum of residential housing needs.
• Improve the City’s ability to retain the young people in the community.
• Address the City’s short and long term economic and community growth and development challenges.
• Set up mechanisms to accommodate growth and development
• Set up mechanisms to promote growth and development.
• Set up mechanisms to sustain and control growth.

These objectives can be achieved by taking full advantage of Wauchula’s strategic location and amenities, both natural and created.

Well, I’m sure you have heard the old saying, Location, Location, Location.  A good location is absolutely critical to any business, and local government in many respects should be run like a business for the benefit of its residents.  A successful location means exposure and easy access.  Wauchula has been blessed with a perfect location. Why?

• Central to everything in South Florida; Tampa, Bradenton, Orlando, Sebring, Okeechobee, all hour away or less.  Major population centers perfectly situated from the radial hub of Wauchula.  Excellent distribution location for ANY business desiring to reach maximum market area
• Most attractive land prices and tax base in the region
• Open space for any size commercial or industrial enterprise
• Availability of essential infrastructure; water, sewer, electric power, roads
• Available workforce
• Expansion of housing, commercial and public amenities
• An unsaturated and congestion free market base

Professional Memberships:

International City & County Management Association (ICMA)
Florida City & County Managers Association (FCCMA)
FCCMA – Emerging Professionals Council Executive Board
Florida League of Cities
Florida Ridge League of Cities
Florida Municipal Power Agency
Florida Municipal Electric Association
Florida Reliability Coordinating Council
Central Florida Regional Planning Council
American Statistical Association

Professional Awards:

City Patriot Medal
Mayor’s Award Medal
Meritorious Public Service Medal
Exceptional Public Service Medal
Distinguished Public Service Medal
Outstanding Public Administrators Award