06/10/2026
A message from your Interim City Administrator:
For those of you that I haven't had an opportunity to meet yet, my name is David Clyne and I've had the honor and pleasure of serving as your interim City Administrator for the past several months. I want to say that I have served in 14 different cities over the course of my 40 plus year career and Madras ranks high on my list as one of the most attractive places with a very welcoming community, and an amazing team of elected officials and staff!
This week is a big week. We welcome to town the top three candidates for the opening of City Administrator. I hope people will find their way to Initiative Brewing this evening for the Meet and Greet, 6:00-7:30pm. Your reactions and particularly your written comments will form an essential part of the Council's ultimate decision for the best candidate to move forward for contract discussions.
As in every community I am aware of, social media has become one of the dominant means of communication and messaging. For that reason, I am sharing this recruiting information and also responding to some misinformation that is circulating.
There has been a lot of discussion about data centers in the news in general and in the local social media. The Council and City staff are aware that these types of developments have become a politically sensitive topic in many communities, including here locally. We are listening to the perspectives and concerns being shared by residents. To be clear, the City is not currently entertaining a proposal for locating a data center in Madras, and there are no related public actions pending before the City Council.
We also recognize that large-scale developments can raise important questions regarding water resources, wastewater infrastructure, power supply, land use, economic benefit, and overall community impact. These are complex issues being discussed by communities, policymakers, utility providers, and industry experts across the region and beyond.
As local governments, residents, and the world continue to learn more about these evolving industries and their potential impacts, it is important that decisions be informed by reliable data, sound planning, and a thorough understanding of both the opportunities and challenges they may present to a community. If any future project requiring City action were to come forward, it would be reviewed through the appropriate public process. Our request to you is to listen in, participate constructively, and help your leadership understand changing concerns in our community.
While I am in the business of sharing news… The City has just finished wrapping up the annual budget with the Budget Committee and we are very happy to announce that it is balanced and in pretty solid shape. We made no significant cuts and are happy to engage in business as usual for the coming year. The staff is pretty amazing in the dedication they have to the Madras community, even in the face of some unfortunate criticism that just isn't deserved. I know most of you probably do so already, but I hope you all come to cherish and value them the way I do for all they do and the professional manner in which they do it.
Thank you again for the wonderful opportunity to serve you for this short time in my life. Madras has created lasting and enjoyable memories for me.
Regards,
David Clyne, Interim City Administrator
