City’s future in good hands

By Carson Lambert

clambert@civitasmedia.com

Matt DeWitt attended Newberry College where he majored in sports management and later earned master’s degrees in athletic administration from Troy University and public administration from Clemson University. DeWitt will put those degrees to use when he steps into the role of Newberry City Manager on Oct. 1.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_DeWitt.jpgMatt DeWitt attended Newberry College where he majored in sports management and later earned master’s degrees in athletic administration from Troy University and public administration from Clemson University. DeWitt will put those degrees to use when he steps into the role of Newberry City Manager on Oct. 1. Courtesy photo

Harvey
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_Al-Harvey.jpgHarvey Courtesy photo

NEWBERRY — The City of Newberry has a slew of sports-related projects upcoming, including a tennis center and a referendum-pending recreational complex and they all will fall well within Matt DeWitt’s wheelhouse when he assumes the position of City Manager this fall.

City Manager Al Harvey said DeWitt, who will take over as city manager on Oct. 1, is ideally suited to guide Newberry through these projects, given his experience with athletics.

“I can’t think of anybody better qualified than Matt whose background is in sports all his life and still is to a certain degree,” Harvey said.

DeWitt, 36, attended Newberry College where he majored in sports management. He later earned master’s degrees in athletic administration from Troy University and public administration from Clemson University.

“I think there’s a big trend you’re seeing now in sports tourism and there’s a lot of folks out there pushing activity to be a healthier community,” DeWitt said.

Additionally DeWitt will oversee a multitude of utilities projects which are continuing to be financed through the bond referendum of several years back.

“We have lots of projects in utilities that are going to keep us busy over the next umpteen years — making repairs, making upgrades,” he said.

On the general government side, DeWitt wants to continue enhancing the vitality of downtown by focusing on recreation and retail so that residents won’t have to travel to other cities for entertainment opportunities.

“I would love to see us further enhance our events,” he said. “I think we do a pretty good job of it now but I hope the people feel like there’s always something going on in Newberry for them.”

DeWitt said what makes a good city manager is someone who can step back from a situation, gain perspective from a variety of angles and then “make a decision that’s the best decision for that situation.”

Harvey came back as city manager in 2013 — following a 13-year gap — to groom the next manager on what was supposed to be only an interim basis of three to six months.

“Then we kicked that can down the road two or three times and we kept rolling this contract,” Harvey said.

DeWitt said values his time spent under Harvey and doesn’t think he could have gotten better tutelage from anybody else.

“To be able to learn under somebody who’s been in local government for over 40 years is just tremendous,” DeWitt said.

Harvey, who began his first tenure as Newberry’s city manager in 1977, said although there is a high demand for city government administrators across the state, he plans to retire.

“I’ll wait about two or three weeks when my wife is suggesting I find something to do to occupy my time that doesn’t involve staying in the house. But I won’t have any trouble entertaining myself,” he said.

Harvey is a self-described history buff who enjoys visiting Civil War battle sites across the southeast and engaging in outdoor activities such as target shooting.

“Matt’s ready for the job. There’s no doubt in my mind,” Harvey said. “He’s has the academic credentials, he has the experience.”

DeWitt said he is driven to perform at his job by the simple desire to give back to the community.

“It sure isn’t for the fame or the glamour or anything like that,” he said. “We get out of bed and we’re driven everyday to help people.”

Reach Carson Lambert at 803-276-0625, ext. 1868, or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.