Steve Biggs, who has served as Clayton Town Manager for nearly two decades, will leave his post next month to take a job in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
Biggs’ last day in Clayton will be June 10th. He will start July 1st as manager in the Town of Christiansburg, the county seat of Montgomery County, located just south of Blacksburg, Va. The Christiansburg Council made the hiring official Tuesday tonight with a vote at its regular meeting.
Together with his wife, Elissa, Biggs has raised his three children in Clayton’s public schools, and he has served the residents of Clayton for 19 years. Having made the difficult decision to move on, he shared the news with Town Council and staff last week.
“Change is the one thing we can all count on and, for me, it is time for change,” Biggs said in an email to employees. “I will be taking another job in another place with new challenges and opportunities, but I will be doing so with the knowledge that Clayton is doing just fine and that each of you will carry on and continue with the success that we have enjoyed for many years. I really only achieved one thing in my time as manager and that was putting together a great group of people – our staff. With a great staff, the rest was easy.”
Easy might be an understatement. When Town Council hired Biggs in 1997, Clayton was close to defaulting on debt payments and finances were in bad shape. Under Biggs’ leadership, the Town turned its books around and now boasts AA bond ratings.
Biggs also managed the Town during a period of unprecedented growth. Clayton tripled in size during his tenure – growing from a population of just over 6,000 residents to nearly 20,000 today.
Mayor Jody McLeod said Biggs helped Town Council realize the vision to make quality of life a priority for Clayton – building parks, greenways, public squares; investing in downtown; improving and expanding infrastructure such as water, sewer and streets; and welcoming growth while raising standards to ensure quality developments. The Mayor also spoke highly of Biggs’ ability to build partnerships in the community and pointed to the incredible collaborative and progressive group of people he helped bring together to successfully renovate two historic school buildings into the modern municipal center that is now The Clayton Center.
“Steve Biggs is one of the leaders that consistently works behind the scenes for the betterment and enrichment of the town of Clayton and its citizens,” said Mayor McLeod. “He will never accept credit for his countless contributions to our Town. While we wish him well in his new endeavor, he will be greatly missed. He’s left Clayton better than he found it, and, after all, isn’t that what great leaders do?”
Deputy Town Manager Nancy Medlin, who’s been with the Town of Clayton for 18 years, will serve as interim Town Manager. Town leaders have already begun the search to find a great manager to fill these big shoes.
“We successfully provide for the safety, leisure, and quality of life for more than 19,000 residents every day,” Biggs told staff. “I leave knowing that Clayton is in good hands, with both our employees and our elected leadership.”
