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Renewed – City manager’s contract extended

Avondale Estates

Renewed – City manager’s contract extended

Avondale Estates City Manager Clai Brown stands next to a portrait of his father, former city manager and police chief Dewey Brown. Photo by: Dan Whisenhunt
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Avondale Estates City Manager Clai Brown stands next to a portrait of his father, former city manager and police chief Dewey Brown. Photo by: Dan Whisenhunt

Avondale Estates City Manager Clai Brown stands next to a portrait of his father, former city manager and police chief Dewey Brown. Photo by: Dan Whisenhunt

Avondale Estates City Commission on Monday, Feb. 24, voted to renew the contract of City Manager Clai Brown.

The renewal is for one year, with a 3 percent raise. Brown’s salary is approximately $150,000. Brown has been city manager for the last six years. He’s also the son of Dewey Brown, who was the city manager and police chief for Avondale Estates for 46 years. Dewey Brown passed away in 2007.

Mayor Ed Rieker and other commissioners praised Clai Brown’s work.

“I just can’t tell you how strongly I feel about this city manager,” Rieker said. “He’s a hard worker. He’s really brought fresh ideas and motivated the staff and continues to do new and better things for the city.”

Commissioners commended Brown and city staff for their work during the recent snow storms. City hall never closed.

“We were here for our residents,” Brown said.

The city also recently received an award for excellence for its financial reporting, Brown said.

Prior to joining the city, Brown worked at Home Depot for 22 years. He said the jump to the public sector from the private sector isn’t as big a leap as it seems.

“It’s all the same, man,” Brown said. “Business is business. Financials is financials. Residents? Customers. You’ve just got to learn the government side of it.”