By Mary Owen
Maryann Hills has done something rare for a city administrator or a city manager. Most only stay a short time before moving on to a larger city.
The city administrator of Aumsville, Hills recently marked two decades of service, earning her accolades from city officials.
“She has worked hard to help make Aumsville a ‘Great Place to Live,’” said White, who presented her with a 20-year service award “clock” at the June 29 city council meeting.
On June 1, 1995, Hills took on the role of city administrator, a job that came with many challenges and rewards over course of time – and many changes.
“Aumsville has grown from 1,975 population to the current 3,895,” Hills said. “Modern housing types have developed as well as city infrastructure and a professional city staff.”
Hills said the biggest funding challenge that took well over a decade was the First Street improvements.
“Now driving into town and seeing the people enjoy the difference in the sidewalks, bike lanes and street widening make is a highlight, as well as how the Main Street improvements upgraded the overall look of the community,” she said.
“The biggest customer satisfaction challenge was the taste and odor quality of Aumsville’s water, since we began chlorinating it,” she added.
Another highlight for Hills was developing the city’s park system, she said.
“As my son grew up, we shared the fun of creating and experiencing playground improvements, recreation activities, the skatepark, Highberger Park open space, and now Wildwood Splash Park improvements,” said Hills, mom to son, Joel, 18. “It has been a dream come true for me, and especially for those involved in the summer reading and recreation programs now in full swing.”
Hills has seen Aumsville become a TEAM (Together Everyone Accomplishes More) oriented community where, she said, “the sum is greater than the parts.”
“My part can retire and Aumsville will continue to be a ‘Great Place to Live’ because of the very professional city staff, city council, and policies and programs in place,” she said. “When I was hired, the city council shared with me their Visioning Plan Goal and I have helped them with that. The outcome has been the construction of our new city hall/police complex and recorded accomplishment of 243 visioning projects. The result has been an award-winning city.”
Aumsville has garnered such recognitions as: Overall Best Drinking Water in Oregon 2015; Visioning Plan Award for Excellence; Developing Assets in Youth Cascade Area Skateboard Park, Creating a New D.A.Y. Award; Family & Child Development Center Award for Excellence; Aumsville Tornado Disaster Emergency Response Award; Aumsville Monthly Newsletter Good Governance Award; Free Summer Recreation Program Award for Excellence.
Looking forward, Hills hopes to see more economic development and job creation.
“Aumsville families and youth need jobs and the Interchange Development Zone and business district need economic development,” she said. “I still have a passion for park improvements to include east side neighborhood and community parks.”
Born in 1959 in California, Hills is from the Kane family. She started working in the sportfishing industry when she was 12. She worked her way up to an office manager after high school before moving to Oregon in 1985.
“My parents had owned a resort in Idaho for a couple of my elementary years, and I fell in love with the seasons of the Northwest,” she said.
“They left the sport fishing industry when I graduated from high school and acquired Kanes Marina on Detroit Lake. After eight years of visiting my parents in Detroit, I wanted the quality of Oregon life and moved there to work with them at the resort marina.”
Hills met and married her husband of over 26 years, Gerry Hills, a born and raised local Detroit logger. She worked for the city of Detroit as its city recorder from 1987 to 1995. Then she was hired by the city of Aumsville.
“I acquired scholarships to attend municipal professional development training at the University of Washington in the 1990s, and when the family logging company was struggling with the spotted owl issues, I welcomed the opportunity to advance my career and use my training,” she said.
Away from work, Hills proclaims motherhood as her greatest joy. She wishes she had more time to expand her cooking talents, and loves being with her “family, garden, dogs, and building Christian and youth ministries relationships.”
“The time I spend sharing the love of Jesus Christ is my favorite,” she said. “Whether in quiet meditation, prayer, reading and rest time, at youth events, on the mission field, or living and working day to day, it’s all about love!”
