New challenges facing Lewis in Norman

Former Joplin City Manager Steve Lewis began his duties as city manager at Norman, Okla., Monday. The Norman Transcript features an interview with him:

One of his primary concerns is filling some key personnel slots. The planning director position was left open with the retirement of Richard Massie earlier this summer, and the assistant to the city manager position was vacated when Scott Martin was elected to the Oklahoma Legislature.

"I'll go to work on the water issues. And finally, just make sure that we're prepared to handle the future growth," Lewis said.

He said in Lee's Summit, it wasn't uncommon for 800 to 1,000 single family homes to be built in a year, not counting multi-family or duplexes.

"Those are some times good problems to have, but it makes for a very challenging environment," Lewis said. "It's always about trying to balance the needs of your existing businesses and your existing citizens on expansion opportunities."

He said he's especially excited to be in a university city.

"One of the things I was really excited about being appointed in Norman was that I really like the excitement and the vibrant nature of a university community," Lewis said. "The students and the faculty are really a resource for the community."

He said one of his major focuses in the coming weeks will be on building relationships.

“In order to really be successful with any of the ventures that the city’s involved with, it’s really incumbent on me to have good relationships. So consequently, I really want to focus on that,” Lewis said.