New village manager’s roots and commitment run deep

To the residents and neighbors of Stockbridge,

It is an incredible privilege to introduce myself as your new Village Manager. While the official title is new, this community has long been my home. I have lived in the Stockbridge area for over 50 years, and my family’s roots here run deep. Many of you may remember my mother, Betty Turner, who served our community as a dedicated local librarian for decades.

I grew up on our local roads, graduated as a Stockbridge Panther in 1989, and met Kim, my wife of 29 years, while she was attending Michigan State University. Together, we raised our two sons, Conrad and Zane, here in Stockbridge. After graduating from Stockbridge High School in 2016 and 2018, both of our boys studied at Jackson College. Our oldest went on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Eastern Michigan University, and our youngest earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Trine University. Watching them build their lives and careers has been our greatest joy.

Because my family’s past, present, and future are entirely tied to this community, I have a profound, lifelong stake in Stockbridge’s success and stability. As I step into the role of chief administrative officer, I bring an innate understanding of our area. Having grown up just south of town, and now living just minutes west of town, I deeply appreciate the regional cost pressures facing our local families. My commitment from day one is to ensure our municipal operations are defined by absolute fiscal responsibility, total transparency, and a high standard of public service.

To meet our community’s challenges, I am bringing nearly three decades of hands-on Michigan civil engineering and municipal infrastructure experience to Village Hall. My career began with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) during college, followed by two years with the City of Lansing’s engineering team. For over 27 years, I have worked with Wolverine Engineers & Surveyors, managing infrastructure, budgets, and public works projects for several communities across south-central Michigan. I know what it takes to manage a municipal system efficiently, and I know exactly how to stretch a taxpayer dollar to achieve the best results.

Over the coming weeks, I look forward to working collaboratively with President Fred Cattell, the village council, and our dedicated public works and safety teams to review our budgets and streamline daily operations. A municipal government operates at its best when it truly listens to its people. Because I am your neighbor first, my door at 118 N. Center Street will be open to you. I welcome your feedback, your questions, and your ideas as we work together to keep Stockbridge a stable, transparent, and prosperous place to call home.

Sincerely,

Pat Turner
Village Manager, Village of Stockbridge