Mike Snider (left) swears in Tracy Colston as Safety-Service Director

The City of Port Clinton announced Tuesday that it had chosen former Safety-Service Director Tracy Colston to assume the position again after the unexpected departure of Safety-Service Director Olen Martin in early January.

“After the interview process, the City’s Search committee was unanimous in the fact that any of the finalists would be a good fit for Port Clinton,” said Mayor Mike Snider. “However, it was also agreed that making a change for the sake of change wasn’t going to place our community in a better position.

“The fact that we had 25 applicants tells me that people are looking at Port Clinton as a place of opportunity.  Each of the candidates we evaluated brought with them a very unique set of skills.  It was a real challenge determining which skill set best fit with what we believe the future of Port Clinton holds.”

Snider also said that knowing the general community, the players in the community, and the needs of the community and the future vision of the community were at the top of the priority list for a safety-service director, everyone felt interim Safety-Service Director Tracy Colston checked all of those boxes.

This is not the first time Tracy Colston has held the Port Clinton position. From 2009 to 2016  Colston held this post under former mayors Debbie Hymore-Tester, Vince Leone and Hugh Wheeler.

“It’s a different atmosphere around town today,” said Colston. “There’s a real energy, excitement and buzz just about everywhere I go around town. I was surprised when Mayor Snider asked if I’d accept the “interim” title and now I’m ready to harness some of this community spirit for positive steps now that that tag has been removed.”

Prior to being given the Interim safety-service directory title in early January, Colston held the combined positions of City Cemetery Sextant, Parks & Recreation Director and Street Department Supervisor. Colston will relinquish those jobs once a successor has selected.