Has Stuart found the right City Manager in David Dyess?
David Dyess has devoted himself to the City of Stuart.
Since joining the Stuart Police Department nearly 30 years ago, Dyess has risen in the ranks to become Chief of Police. His service and devotion to the City was and is evident in every rank he has held, from patrol officer to chief. Upon becoming chief, he instituted a neighborhood policing strategy that has proven very successful, especially in East Stuart. His technological expertise has brought the Police Department into the 21st century.
As Interim City Manager, Dyess is constantly involved in neighborhood events. This, of course, is no different than from his career in the Stuart Police Department. As volunteers, we have worked together at the East Stuart Partnership, NAACP, Neighborhood Watch and any number of other events. Together with his wife, Karen, he is a fixture throughout our City doing good deeds and helping others.
While being involved in the life of the City is important, what is even more cogent is his managerial and people skills. Four months ago, he assumed the position of Interim City Manager at a time of low morale at City Hall. Through hard work and a sympathetic but no-nonsense approach, he has reinvigorated our City workforce. It is nice to see smiles on their faces again.
He has made a good hire in Kevin Freeman as Director of the Development Department and placed the CRA back where it belongs in Development. Dyess’s appointment of Joe Tumminelli to be Interim Chief of Police has proven to be a sound decision.
However, with the word interim in front of Dyess’s title, there is still uncertainty, and that uncertainty is something that the City needs to put behind it. Stuart needs the certainty of knowing who is in charge.
There are others that might have better credentials on paper (we had one of those briefly, and the result was a disaster), but no one who has the confidence of our citizens, knows the terrain, and can bring a lifetime of common-sense knowledge to this job. Without knowing it, Dyess has been preparing to be our City Manager from the time he was a young boy growing up on Manor Drive.
It is time that the City Commission removes “Interim” from “City Manager.” For the past 4 months, David Dyess has been demonstrating his abilities and has been auditioning for the job. There is nothing more that he needs to show. He hasn’t failed us when we needed him most. To the majority of citizens he has passed the test.