New superintendent

Improving the city’s amenities is a key focus for Matt Shauver, the new superintendent of Portland’s street and parks department.

“I want to work with every department and every entity that has interest in improving the City of Portland,” he said. “If there’s things that we can do to help the progression of improvement, we want to be a part of it.”

Mayor Jeff Westlake recently appointed Shauver, the former parks manager who took over leadership from Tom Leonhard on Jan. 3. Westlake announced the change during the Jan. 2 Portland City Council meeting, during which he also noted the appointments of a new chief of police and assistant chief. 

Shauver, a 1995 Jay County High School graduate, worked for Tyson Foods before shifting to a 15-year stint at Dayton Progress. He started with the city in May 2012, spending four years at the wastewater plant before transferring to his current department.

“(Former superintendent Ryan Myers) handed me a set of keys to the Portland Water Park, and he said, ‘This is going to be your baby,’” he recalled.

Along with other park work, Shauver has handled maintenance at Portland Water Park since it opened in 2016. 

Shauver noted it may be a rough first year as he transitions into the new role, specifically when it comes to Portland Water Park. Currently there are no employees trained to take over pool maintenance operations, but Shauver plans to hire a new park manager soon.

“I don’t like to be caught unprepared. That’s going to be the challenge, is to replace myself and find that person,” he said. “To me, it’s more than just a job … especially the water park, you have to be responsible because it’s families and children and chemicals.”

He has had some experience leading the department in the past, having served as interim superintendent for a short period between Myers and Leonhard. At that time, he was offered the job but declined. This time around, his wife, Christy Shauver, encouraged him to step up. When approached by Westlake, he accepted.

As superintendent, Shauver oversees all street and parks department employees. Along with handling department bills and paperwork, he plans to check in on his workers and be present in the community.

“My goal is to spend time with the guys out and about,” he said. “To sit behind that desk all day, I just — I’m not doing that. A lot of it for me is going to be public relations.”

His department’s responsibility, he noted, is to serve the public.

“For us here, I told (our employees), you know, we’re going to be held to a higher standard because we’re a reflection of the City of Portland,” said Shauver. “They know, take the time, if they see something out and about that doesn’t look right, let’s address it.”