Photo by RANDY PARKS

With a background in development, Burns City Manager David Sneddon said it’s not a matter of looking at a community as it is, but what it could be.

David Sneddon, the new Burns city manager, moved to Harney County from Boise, Idaho, last April, but he is no stranger to small towns.

Sneddon was born and raised in Montana until his family moved to Southern California. There, Sneddon attended a military high school in Carlsbad, which was a small community back then.

After graduating from high school, Sneddon attended Montana State in Bozeman for two years. He then transferred to Boise State University, graduating in 1996 with a degree in political science, with an emphasis in international relations.

While in college, Sneddon met and married his wife, Sherri, who later graduated with a registered nurse degree.

After graduation, Sneddon got his real estate license and began selling homes. He said his main focus was on first-time home buyers, which led to involvement with construction firms, builders, and infrastructure development.

Sneddon said most of the development projects that he worked on were smaller “infill” projects. He mentioned a 19-lot project that took three years to complete and gave him more experience with the permitting process, applications, and the time element of completing a project.

As Boise continued to grow, the Sneddons began looking for a smaller community. When they first looked at Oregon, they traveled to coastal communities, then considered the Eugene area.

“We were passing through Burns on most of those trips, and after a while, I stated looking at the community like a development project,” he said. “It’s like finding a diamond.”

Sneddon spent some time visiting Burns and Hines, looking at property. Friends suggested that his wife look into employment opportunities at Harney District Hospital, stating that it’s a great hospital for the area. Sherri applied and received the nighttime nursing supervisor position.

“She got a job here before I did,” Sneddon said with a laugh. “My business partner and I had just finished up the Cay Village project in Boise, a townhouse project, and we decided to make the move.”

In April, the couple found a house in Hines, and began the process of relocating. Sneddon said his wife stayed at an RV park for a month because her job had already started, while he was busy packing.

Once he arrived in town, Sneddon began wondering what lay in store for him.

“I was having lunch at Juniper Cookhouse, reading the paper, and saw the opening for the city manager position,” he said. “I had experience in a lot of those areas, so I put in my application, and interviewed for the job.”

Sneddon said it’s different moving from the private sector to a public position, but his history of dealing with government entities is a plus.

“If I hear somebody say ‘sewer project,’ I perk up,” he said with a smile. “I look at the development possibilities.”

He said his experience in developing projects taught him how to solve problems, not look at them as setbacks.

“My philosophy is to sit back, learn, listen, and ask a lot of questions. Eventually, you solve the problem,” he said.

Sneddon added that it’s not a matter of looking at a community as it is, but what it could be.

He said the reality of the world now is that, as cities get bigger, people are moving out, looking for a smaller area to reside.

“People who come here want to be here,” he said. “They want to get back to a smaller community.”

Sneddon also noted that a number of communities rely on grants and loans for progress, but that pot of outside money is going to get smaller as competition for funds continues to grow. He said he favors bringing in more businesses, as there are a number of commercial and industrial sites available, and he’s willing to meet with interested parties.

An increase in businesses would create a need for more housing. If a developer builds more houses, there will be more revenue for the city.

“It’s a matter of looking forward and encouraging business, providing for a broader economic base,” Sneddon said. “I don’t want to rely on those grants.”

He stated that having an airport is Burns is a “pretty big thing,” and with proper development, it could be a central location for transportation needs. He also stated that having a trade school here is a possibility for growth.

Sneddon seems to be settling into the community well.

“You’re just five minutes from anywhere, and I’m discovering all [that] the businesses have to offer,” he said. “Once you get to meet people, they’re happy you’re here. It’s a place where people still shake your hand and smile.”