Garley leaving Wasilla for Palmer

WASILLA — Wasilla’s loss is Palmer’s gain, as deputy administrator Sandra Garley has accepted a position as Palmer’s planning director.

Garley’s resignation is effective the end of January. She spent the past four years as Wasilla’s deputy administrator and prior to that was planning director for the Mat-Su Borough. The position puts Garley closer to home.

“I live in the Palmer area and working with your neighbors is always a good thing,” she said.

Although Garley will have a new title in a new town, she is confident her planning experience with Wasilla and the Borough will be valuable for Palmer.

Garley said the Palmer opportunity was attractive and said that was her motivation for leaving Wasilla government. She also could be close to qualifying for retirement, but the thought hasn’t even crossed her mind.

“I will never retire,” she said, jokingly adding that she still wonders what she’ll be when she grows up. “I can’t envision myself as a retired person.”

Wasilla Mayor Dianne M. Keller said Garley will be missed.

“Sandra has a been a wonderful asset to our city and I’m sad to see her go,” Keller said.

Not only has Garley been an important part of city staff, she has played an important role during the Keller administration, the mayor said.

“She has been a wonderful mentor for me and I very much appreciate what she has done for me and the city,” she said.

Keller said Garley’s resignation wasn’t a surprise. When Susan Colligan, Wasilla’s former finance director, vacated her position near the end of 2007, Keller sensed it was a sign of things to come. Overall, Keller said she believes people are leaving positions for other more stable jobs.

On the other end of the city switch, Palmer awaits its new planning pro.

“We’re are delighted to have Mrs. Garley on our team,” Palmer City Manager Bill Allen said. “You look at her resumé, background and experience, she has a wealth of knowledge in various areas.”

The hunt for a planning director initially led to six qualified candidates, Allen said. After further review, the city narrowed the field to two. Garley was ultimately chosen because of her extensive and varied experience. As the city grows, Garley will play an important role in its development, he said.

“Right now our growth is restricted by our boundaries,” Allen said. “We need to look for a way and a means to have more land available for growth.”

Overall, Allen expects Garley to fit in perfectly as part of the Palmer city staff.

“We’re excited to have Sandra come aboard,” he said. “She’s going to make a great contribution to our team.”

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.