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Hayden town manager is finalist for job in Arizona

Russ Martin in running for city manager role in Camp Verde

Jack Weinstein
Russ Martin
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— Hayden Town Manager Russ Martin is one of three finalists for the city manager position in Camp Verde, Ariz.

Martin is in the final year of a three-year contract and said he wanted to see what opportunities were available.

“I’m not trying to leave, but I think I need to look at other places for my career,” Martin said Monday. “At some point, I’d like to work for a larger community. But I don’t know if now is the right time.”



Martin became Hayden’s town manager in March 2004 after serving as the human resources director in Minturn and as a regional planner in Richfield, Utah.

He has a master’s degree in human resource management from Utah State University and a bachelor’s degree in city and regional planning.



During his tenure, Martin has overseen creation and adoption of a new town comprehensive plan; a land-use code revision; infrastructure development, in­­cluding the new police station and upgrades to Dry Creek Park; and Hayden’s transition to a home rule municipality.

Hayden Town Council member Chuck Grobe was mayor when Martin was hired.

Grobe said Martin’s hiring was a great decision by the council, and he doesn’t want Martin to go.

“I just think he’s been doing a great job,” Grobe said. “I’d like to keep him around as long as possible. He’s a good attribute to the town. He’s a good family man and active in what goes on in and around Hayden in addition to government. He’s a good asset to the area.”

Because he was in the last year of his contract, Martin said he told Town Council members that he would explore other opportunities. Martin said his interest in other positions isn’t a tool for negotiating a better contract with Hayden.

His current annual salary is $82,658. That figure doesn’t include benefits.

Camp Verde is an attractive position for similar reasons that Hayden was six years ago, Martin said. In addition to the appeal of a larger town — Camp Verde has fewer than 11,000 residents and is located 86 miles north of Phoenix — Martin said the job would allow him to use his planning background.

He interviewed in Camp Verde last Friday. Martin said he and his wife, Ann, enjoyed their visit. But he said they also like living in Hayden and like the schools. The Martins have two children, 7-year-old Michael and 5-year-old Mc­­Ken­na.

Martin said he’s looking forward to hearing back from Camp Verde. He said if things work out there, he would be tempted to leave. But if they don’t, Martin said, he wouldn’t be disappointed to remain in Hayden.

“I’d like what I’ve done here to be replicated somewhere else,” he said. “Camp Verde might be the place to do that.”

Martin said he has a draft of a new three-year con­­tract from Hay­den.

The Town Coun­­cil will review the draft in executive session during its meeting Thurs­­day.

According to the Verde Indepen­dent newspaper, selection is expected before Camp Verde Town Council’s July 7 meeting.

— To reach Jack Weinstein, call 871-4203 or e-mail jweinstein@steamboatpilot.com


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