KALKASKA - Penny Hill, new manager of the Village of Kalkaska, started her new job last Friday and made time to meet with The Leader. Hill said her short-term goals include getting to know both employees and residents.

"I want to get to know everybody and find out what's working for them and find out what their goals are," she said. "I also want to get to know the people who live here.

"I'm very easy to talk to," she said. "I will always listen. If I don't agree, I'll say, ÔLet me think about it.'"

Hill said she will tackle some unfinished business regarding the streetscape, the industrial park and possibly the master plan. Her long-term goal is a beautiful vision for Kalkaska's future.

"Kalkaska is so pretty," she said. "I'd like to see it just be a well-kept, little place that's not commercialized and have enough jobs that residents work here and stay here."

About the industrial park, she said, "I want to see what is going on there now and what can go on there in the future."

Hill has been in the business of public service for 20 years. She spent 13 years at the City of Bessemer as deputy clerk, clerk and then manager. She is coming to Kalkaska directly from Ontonagon, in northwestern Upper Peninsula, where she has been manager for the past seven years.

Hill said the challenges she faces in Kalkaska are not unique. nges here are the same as in any town in Michigan," she said. "It's the economy -how to be creative and generate the revenue to provide the services that residents expect."

Hill said that anyone concerned about the fact that she is the wife of a former village police chief and village manager should know how she plans to handle the situation.

"I'll talk to him like I would any resident," she said. "If he has an opinion, I'll consider it.

"Not during the interview, but in talking about the contract, the council discussed my relationship with the council and the sometimes turbulent relationship they had with Mel," she said. "My response was, ÔI have been in this business for 20 years and I have talked to a lot of people. I will do this job as a professional.'"

Hill spoke of her children, some of whom are step-children, as being her "kids."

Nikki, 23, graduated from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn., and now works in Ironwood for an internet company called Superior Shoes.

Kari, 19, is attending Gogebic Community College in Ironwood and plans to study mortuary science.

Troy, 35, specializes in oil field mapping and works mainly in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Michigan.

Lance, 22, is a junior at Saginaw Valley State Univeristy and is studying business.

Chelsea, 18, is a freshman at Michigan State University and plans to go into psychology or social work.

Hill also plays the French horn. She has been active in a community band in the UP and is looking for a band in the area.

"It's fun," she said. "It's like my outlet. The people are so fun." Hill said that if she doesn't find a local band, she just might have to create one.

There will be an open house at the Kalkaska village offices on Wednesday, Jan. 23, from 3 to 6 p.m. There will be cookies and coffee for anyone wishing to meet the new manager and welcome her to the village.

Heidi Berden can be reached at hberden@ michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-2584600.