Renee Barron

GLADSTONE — A key employee at the City of Gladstone will be retiring next month. Renee Barron, Community Development Director/Zoning Administrator, is concluding a career that has served Gladstone residents and area communities.

There are many jobs that have the potential to seem thankless and grueling, but despite challenges, Barron experienced support and understanding from both colleagues and citizens during her time in Gladstone. The work they have accomplished together has led to some prosperous circumstances that not many Upper Peninsula communities have experienced in recent years — market value increases and a population rise.

“This is a testament to the city’s commitment to thoughtful planning and development,” Barron said.

“On a personal level, what I’ve enjoyed most is working directly with residents and business owners to make Gladstone a better place. Planning and zoning can often feel restrictive, but I love the moments when people understand how these regulations foster organized, sustainable development,” she said.

One snapshot of an instance that illustrates the dichotomy of the limitations created by zoning is one of Barron’s proudest memories — a couple whose fence permit was denied wrote her a thank-you note.

“Although they were disappointed, they appreciated the fairness and respect I showed throughout the process,” Barron explained. “This moment reinforced the importance of the rules we follow — they’re written to benefit the entire community, even if they don’t perfectly fit every individual situation. They understood that, and I appreciated that they did.”

Kind and communicative people — appreciative residents and receptive staff — was a big part of what drew Barron to working for the City of Gladstone in the first place.

Before her employment with the city, Barron assisted a civilian contractor at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base when it was active as a military base, worked with at-risk youth programs through Six-County Consortium, and served 12 years at Public Health for Delta and Menominee Counties.

During her time with the health department, one of Barron’s responsibilities was grant-writing for local health initiatives. Her efforts helped to install fitness equipment at Gladstone’s Public Safety Department and build a walking trail to connect the boardwalk with Michigan Avenue.

“The funding secured required efforts for the trail to be smoke-free, and we came up with an idea to paint smoke-free emblems on the path. City staff still tease me about those smoke-free messages to this day,” Barron admitted.

Of all the communities that she worked with as an employee of Public Health, Barron said, Gladstone was her favorite.

She was hired with the City of Gladstone in September 2008.

As Howard Haulotte — then the Zoning Administrator — recalls, Barron was brought on board with the expectation that she would eventually take over his job. It wasn’t long that Barron worked for Haulotte; he retired in 2009.

“Renee was a very good employee. She was a hard worker and was very conscientious about doing her job well, and she did that,” Haulotte said.

Over the last 16-and-a-half years, Barron recounted, she’s worked 19 different city commissioners, five mayors, six city managers, and three interim city managers. She said that the foundations laid by predecessors like Haulotte, now the chair of the planning commission, and Kim Berry, currently the city clerk, helped to navigate the hurdles of the economic downturn of 2008, “an ever-changing environment, …unfunded liabilities from the past, COVID and a stagnating millage rate.”

Barron said that she has found it “deeply rewarding” to facilitate projects residential, commercial and industrial, and “seeing these developments evolve from ideas to tangible results is a testament to the city’s ability to balance a welcoming environment with supportive rules that ensure growth while protecting the health and safety of our residents.”

She hopes the programs and services her department offers will see continued support, and said that there is “potential for technology to further enhance the department’s work. GIS has already revolutionized how I approached my job, and I see great opportunities for new tools to make processes easier for both staff and residents. Technology has the power to improve communication and provide resources that bridge the gap between what the city offers and what the community needs.”

In retirement, Barron will get to spend more time working on projects with her husband and father and visiting a grandchild in Kansas. Her last day is April 15.

Wishing her friend and colleague happiness in her adventures in retirement, Berry said:

“Renee has been an incredible asset to both the City of Gladstone and me personally. It’s clear that her leadership, integrity, and dedication have made a lasting impact on the community. The fact that she took the Community Development Department to the level it is now speaks volumes about her skills and vision. It is bittersweet to see her retirement after so many years of working closely together, especially knowing how much she contributed to the city. I want to thank her for her years of dedication and public service. She will be missed.”

It doesn’t sound like Barron plans on vanishing completely, though, and the city may still benefit from her input.

“I’m excited to join community groups and committees — but this time, I’ll enjoy being on the other side of the table. I don’t sit still well, so I’m keeping my options open and look forward to whatever comes next,” Barron said.

“Gladstone has been good to me and my family. I’ve been fortunate to have worked with many dedicated employees who deeply care about this city and take pride in what they do. I wish more residents could see just how much effort it takes to make Gladstone shine the way it does. To my coworkers, my committees, the citizens of Gladstone, and everyone I’ve had the privilege of working with, I want to say thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to enjoying Gladstone for as long as you let me.”