CRESWELL — City manager Michelle Amberg’s last day is Dec. 13, so the Creswell City Council and staff have been reviewing resumes and letters of interest. On Tuesday, the Council unanimously appointed Spencer Nebel as the interim city manager.
On Dec. 3, Creswell City Council convened a special meeting to conduct 45-minute conversations with interim hopefuls Nebel and David Clyne.
Councilors and Mayor Dave Stram read from a list of questions crafted by Amberg about leadership approaches, navigating workplace challenges, and goals for the city of Creswell. Councilors were also granted the ability to present questions of their own.
After the proceedings, the council heard public comments before deliberating themselves.
“They both were really good. Spencer kind of caught my eye a little bit more just because he’s very knowledgeable, and relatable. He was a good communicator,” Said council-elect Mark Kremer.
Councilor Clark Kent expressed positive sentiments regarding Clyne’s “honesty and candor.” councilor Clark recognized Clyne’s “depth and breadth of his experience” in an interim role.
Alonzo Costilla, council president, felt that Clyne “had a better understanding” of the interim role. Nick Smith, mayoral-elect and councilor, raised concerns about the cost difference between candidates and Clyne’s being “more open to non-recruitment” replacement efforts.
Councilor Norma Jean Osborn said that despite Nebel’s lack of interim experience, he would “do really well” for the city of Creswell. Councilor Holt said that Nebel “was more professional in his interview.” Mayor Dave Stram conveyed a sense of favor for both candidates but leaned towards Nebel.
“I know that right now, we have huge issues coming up in terms of wastewater, roads, airport. So while David has a lot of experience with all those, Spencer is just coming off of 11-plus years in a city doing that. So there’s a part of me that feels like he’s very fresh,” Stram said.
After council deliberation, Nebel was unanimously appointed to the interim role.
With a four-decade career in city management under his belt, Nebel most recently served as the city manager of Newport, Ore. He retired from the post in July 2024 after ten years in the role. Previously, Nebel held the same position in Sault Ste. Marie and Munising, Mich., and also worked as an assistant city manager in Marquette, Mich.
When asked about his management style during his interview, Nebel described himself as an “orchestra conductor.”
During the deliberation process, Stram noted that outgoing Amberg described her leadership style similarly.
“This is the first interview I’ve had in over 11 years,” Nebel said. “It was good to get back in the saddle of doing an interview again for a job, and I really kind of enjoyed it. It was, I think, a good experience. I think the council did a nice job going through the process.”
Smith, who is slated to begin his term as mayor in January, has felt increased pressure with Amberg’s departure but is looking forward to Nebel stepping into the role.
“I’m excited that he’s fresh off retirement and has the knowledge and experience, and in his interview, he used a lot of the same words that I’ve used in meetings, and so I feel there’ll be a good crossover, good communication between the two,” Smith said in a comment. “I think it’ll work out for Creswell that we won’t skip a beat, and we’ll be able to move forward, and hopefully, we can find somebody like him for the future.”
Looking ahead, Nebel is eager to support the Creswell community through its upcoming projects and key issues.
“I’m excited about the opportunity and look forward to working with the staff, council, and people in Creswell to get them through this interim period and, hopefully, lay the groundwork for a successful tenure of (its) next city manager.”
