Tim Suan leaving Page for deputy city manager role in Wickenburg  

Posted

PAGE – Tim Suan is leaving town. He’s taken a new job in Wickenburg, Arizona, and will serve as deputy city manager. This is Suan’s last week as the Page community and economic development director.

Suan began working for the City of Page in December 2018. He worked mainly behind the scenes, and among other duties, focused on bringing new development to Page and prepared the way with needed zoning changes.

Suan told the Chronicle it was a bittersweet decision and spoke highly of city manager Darren Coldwell and staff. He said, “Darren is the most compassionate city manager, that not only I’ve worked with, but that I’ve known in my career.”

“It was one of the most difficult conversations I’ve had,” Suan said, “I put a lot of blood, sweat and tears, a lot of effort, a lot of passion into doing everything we’ve done in Page, and there’s been a lot of success and a lot of trials and challenges, but it’s been most rewarding to me, and that’s a difficult conversation to say that you are going to put that all behind.”

He added, “Having my family come up here, having my mom come up here––It’s a tough conversation to have to say there’s another opportunity over here.”

Suan said his mother loves Page and plans on living her retirement years here when housing becomes available.

Even with Wickenburg on the horizon, Suan has Page in his blood. He spoke of new housing, some with boots on the ground and some in the pipeline. He said, “Housing is difficult, but it’s not impossible.”

Like many in Page, Suan and his family live in a mobile home. He said, “There’s nothing wrong with manufactured homes, but it’s not the first choice. The other option is a $650,000, 1,800-square foot home.”

Page residents know all too well affordable housing is desperately needed. And the shortage makes it difficult to hire and retain good people for essential roles in the community.

Finding a balance for housing, short-term rentals and human resources is tricky, especially with rising construction costs. Development relies on other peoples’ money. No one is going to build something unless there are profits. Currently, low-cost housing is only possible with federal subsidizing.

Building mid to high-end housing, in theory, frees the less desirable properties, either for affordable purchases or rentals. Suan said, “There (are) 176 lots just for Indigo Ridge [and] 13th Avenue, that’s moving dirt right now.”

“The Cliffs” on 13th Avenue is a 36-townhome development with three bedrooms and 2.5 baths for short and long-term rentals.

Suan said, “Housing is a big, big issue. It’s bittersweet being named one of the top destinations for short-term rentals and top investments for short-term rentals because that brings a lot of opportunity, a lot of growth, and things like that, but it also takes homes off the market. So, it becomes challenging for people.”

Suan said the city staff and the council “are very much in alignment” when it comes to housing. They are pro-development and pro-growth. He said, “The outlook is bright.”

Keeping a vacation town prosperous in the modern world means keeping up. Suan said, “In my profession, I’ve had to tackle the lack of broadband, the lack of telecommunications.

“Just recently, like over the last month, you saw a lot of construction going on. The dirt being torn up and things like that. That’s because we have a secondary fiber line in town. You probably saw rates drop, and that was a lot of effort. It’s not just myself, but a lot of the colleagues here put their passion behind it and actually got some success. While we’re very remote, we’re probably one of the most connected. Nothing’s perfect, so we have challenges, but we’re pretty dang connected in terms of broadband.”

Suan doesn’t plan on forgetting Page. He said, “One of my biggest pet peeves is when somebody leaves an organization, and they forget where they came from. [Page] is very near and dear to my heart. Darren has been the most supportive person, which is difficult when you’re telling somebody, ‘Hey, I’m going to put you in a spot that could be difficult.’

“There’s nothing but love coming this way. I’m going to be in the Valley. I’m going to be a connection.’

Suan, known for his many connections in the Valley, said the city staff now have those same connections.

Suan said, “I oversee planning and zoning. I oversee building safety; oversee engineering; oversee economic development, and that’s a lot to ask for somebody to take over.”

On Wednesday, Coldwell said he is considering restructuring rather than replacing the position.