Salina City Manager Honored

City Manager Jason Gage was honored with a prestigious award at the Monday Salina City Commission meeting.

Gage was awarded the Buford M. Watson, Jr. Award for Excellence in Public Management by the Kansas Association of City/County Management. The Award is the highest award given by the association and recognizes outstanding achievement in public management, dedication to the public management profession, and mentorship of young professionals.

“Jason exemplifies excellence in city management and our association is proud to recognize his accomplishments and dedication”, said Trey Cocking, President of KACM and the City Manager of Atchison. KACM also noted Gage’s commitment to the association, having recently served as its President in 2012.

Some highlights of Gage’s nomination include:
• He actively encourages and promotes his department heads to continually improve and regularly challenges them to not accept the status quo

• Encouraged his executive staff to be active in succession planning and leadership development in order to ensure consistent operations and service to citizens

• Engaged all city departments in Continuous Process Improvement training and implementation

• Coordinated with city and county leaders, the USD305 Superintendent, the Salina Airport Authority, KDHE, and many others in an effort to hold the EPA and Federal Government responsible for a groundwater contamination problem from a former air force base that has not been resolved for more than twenty years

Gage has served as Salina’s city manager since July of 2005. Prior to that time, he served as the city manager of Stillwater, Oklahoma; assistant city manager and management intern in Salina; and city manager of De Soto, Missouri.

A public reception was held prior to Gage being formally presented the award.