Public invited to reception honoring Joplin city manager as Public Official of the Year

(From the City of Joplin)

Joplin City Council and staff invite the public to join us in congratulating City Manager Mark Rohr in being named a “Public Official of the Year” by Governing Magazine. A reception recognizing Rohr in receiving this award will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 6 in the Main Lobby of Joplin City Hall, 602 South Main. Introduction and comments will be made at 4:15 p.m. Refreshments will be served during the event.

Rohr was one of seven government officials throughout the country honored this year by the national magazine that focuses on state and local governments throughout the United States. He recently accepted this award during an awards dinner in Washington D.C. introducing him and the other officials as this year’s honorees.

Those attending the ceremony hosted by Governing Magazine described Rohr as very humble in receiving the award, noting that he stated that this award was very nice although it did not belong to just him, but to everyone who has been instrumental in Joplin’s recovery following the May 22, 20111 tornado.

Rohr provided direction and led the City staff throughout the disaster response to ensure that the citizens of Joplin received efficient and effective services that would allow them to recover in the best and most appropriate manner for their individual circumstances.

Rohr has been with the City of Joplin in November, 2004. During this time, Rohr has led numerous initiatives including the success of

• Completing ten blocks of downtown streetscaping improvements which have ignited new interest in downtown revitalization;

• Leading the initiative for a Public Safety Tax that allowed for an additional 30 police officers and the construction of the city’s first police substation in the southern portion of the city. The tax also allowed for the hiring of 30 additional fire fighters and the construction of a new fire station in Southwest Joplin, which opened in Spring 2012;

• Developing and implementing a “Blueprint for the Future” which establishes short-, mid- and long-range goals and objectives over the next 10 years;

• Expanding the existing public transportation system in 2007, utilizing fixed and deviated routes and incorporating city’s historic mining district as the theme of service; since inception, this program has doubled rider usage;

• Creating and executing a Neighborhood Improvement Program that engages leaders in both public and private sectors to strengthen partnerships for success.

• Completing Phases I and II of community athletic complex that offers baseball, soccer, softball and tennis facilities and programs for residents and sports teams and organizations; and

• Solidifying the City’s financial status in multiplying the general fund by many folds during a troubled economy.

Rohr has also written a book about the City’s first six months following the disaster. It is entitled, “The Miracle of the Human Spirit.”

Prior to his work in Joplin, Rohr served as City Manager in Piqua, Ohio from 1998 to 2004; worked as City Manager in Punta Gorda, Florida from 1995 to 1998, and filled the City Manager position in Washington Court House, Ohio for five years prior to that. He also was City Manager of Newton Falls, Ohio for approximately 3 years.

Rohr received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Governing is a national monthly magazine, edited and published since 1987 in Washington, D.C., whose subject area is state and local government in the United States. The magazine covers policy, politics and the management of government enterprises. Its subject areas include such issues as government finance, land use, economic development, the environment, technology and transportation. The magazine's circulation is approximately 85,000.

According to Governing’s website, since 1994, the publication honors individual state and local government officials for outstanding accomplishments by naming them Public Officials of the Year.