COLUMBIA – Columbia City Manager Mike Matthes announced the city has hired JJ Musgrove to be the new deputy city manager.
Musgrove is currently the director of the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs. He was chosen out of a field of 104 applicants nationwide.
In a press release from the city, City Manager Matthes said, “I am also pleased that, despite seeing strong candidates from outside of the city, we continue to find the right candidate from within.”
As deputy city manager, Musgrove will oversee the departments of Information Technology, Law, Park and Recreation, Human Resources and Public Health and Human Services, according the release.
“I suspect I will be included in a variety of meetings and meet and greets just to get to know everybody that is going to be reporting to me. And how I can add value to those particular departments,” said Musgrove explaining the upcoming weeks before he officially takes the position.
Musgrove said he was excited about the opening in the deputy city manager position because of its emphasis in expanding the city’s diversity and inclusion efforts. He said the city has already done a great deal of opening lines of communication with members in the community concerned with social justice issues. Musgrove said he wants the city to add to and become better partners in that conversation.
“I’m just really looking forward to expanding the city manager’s office role within our community,” Musgrove said.
“And strengthening those partnerships that frankly are already existing: with Columbia Public Schools, with some of our corporate partners, with the University of Missouri, Stephens College, Columbia College. I look forward to really trying my best to add value to those partnerships, so that we all can take care of our community together.”