Former Atwater manager enjoying his 'retirement'

Former Atwater city manager Greg Wellman came to the Sun-Star building this week to talk about his recent retirement, his new job and his forecasts for state and local governments.

Wellman was given an award Feb. 3 in Monterey by the League of California Cities for his 43 years of work in local government.

Sun-Star: It was early November when you retired from the city; have you been enjoying your retirement?

Wellman: That's correct. Nov. 3 to be exact. I'm very much enjoying my "retirement." I'm pretty busy right now, but hopefully, there'll be some time to do some personal stuff.

Sun-Star: Any job prospects or anything you're looking toward, full or part time?

Wellman: I am as of last week the general manager of Keyes Water Sanitation and Lighting District. The board and I are trying to keep it to 16 hours a week.

Sun-Star: What else have you been doing in your spare time?

Wellman: I have been doing some consulting with a couple of cities and looking at some work with the state of California as well. Nothing formal with the state yet.

Sun-Star: After 43 years of working in local government, it must be tough to get away from it. Are you still keeping up with what's going on in Atwater, what's going on in Merced County?

Wellman: I keep up with what's going on, generally in the state. Obviously, in my consulting business, I have to be more detailed. I've tried to keep away from Atwater. I figured that an eight-year run -- I finished out the contract with the city. They have a new city manager there and I know he's got his hands full. If he needs something he can call, but otherwise I just need to not be there.

Sun-Star: What do you think about interim City Manager Stan Feathers?

Wellman: Well, you have to keep in mind that I'm not terribly objective when it comes to Stan because I've known him for well over 30 years. He served in the mid- to late '70s when I was assistant county administrator. He served as our administrative intern from Stanislaus State University, and he's a very, very valuable individual, tremendous credentials, real integrity and he's just tough as nails.

Sun-Star: What do you think about the state budget?

Wellman: There are going to have to be cuts, they're going to have to be deep and there are no sacred cows. You're going to see cuts, perhaps in redevelopment.

Sun-Star: While Gov. Jerry Brown's in, do you think state government will get bigger or smaller?

Wellman: I think he's serious about this. I think he's committed to making government smaller. I think he's committed to the smart use of technology. I think he's not afraid to try new things.

Sun-Star: What do you think about high-speed rail?

Wellman: I'm torn on that one because I believe so much in investing, not spending, but investing in infrastructure. All you have to do is look at our road system. Interstate and state-wide road systems that provide our trucking industry, provide 70 percent of the movement of goods throughout our nation. Had we not taken that step in the Eisenhower and later years to improve the road system, where would we be? It sounds like a horrendous cost to do this high-speed rail. It is horrendously expensive. It will, however, create jobs and the last time I looked around the Central Valley, that's the No. 1 thing we need.

Sun-Star: Merced recently placed third on Forbes' list of most miserable cities. Is that fair? Is it warranted?

Wellman: Heavens, no, it's not warranted. I think we have some particular challenges with the poverty index -- there's no question about that. I have trouble looking at this area as being more miserable than some of the areas that I've been in in more metropolitan areas.

More of this interview is on the Sun-Star's "Off the 99" radio show, which can be heard on KYOS 1480 AM on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday at 6:30 a.m. or all the time at mercedsunstar.com/offthe99.

Reporter Mike North can be reached at (209) 385-2453 or mnorth@mercedsun-star.com.

This story was originally published February 12, 2011 at 2:45 AM with the headline "Former Atwater manager enjoying his 'retirement'."