photo by: Warren Scott

After serving Wellsburg for a little more than 10 years, Steve Maguschak will be leaving his position as city manager on Jan. 23. Before coming to Wellsburg, he worked for the village of Mingo Junction in law enforcement and as its administrator for a combined 30 years.

As he prepares for retirement following more than 40 years of public service, Wellsburg City Manager Steve Maguschak reflected on the start of his career and his time with the city.

Maguschak looked back on projects he and others have been able to accomplish during his 10 years in the position while acknowledging there is more he had hoped to do.

“The most difficult part is funding. We all know what needs to be done. It’s just trying to get it done,” he said. “I think we’ve accomplished a lot in 10 years. Not as much as we’d like to.”

Maguschak said when he arrived, the roof of City Hall was leaking and its clock tower was rotting from within. With council’s support, public funds and private donations, the roof, tower and its crumbling front steps were replaced, electronic sliding doors were installed and a handicap-accessible ramp was added at its east side.

Much of Maguschak’s attention has been directed to improvements to the city’s water and wastewater treatment systems, with main waterlines replaced along Main, Charles and Commerce streets from Second to 12th streets and combined sanitary and stormwater sewer lines separated at Sixth, Seventh and Eighth streets.

Under his leadership, new pilings have been installed at the Wellsburg Wharf and an ongoing effort has been made to replace all of its docks.

Maguschak said he is looking forward to retirement after a long career in public service that began with law enforcement in Mingo Junction.

The son of Michael J. Maguschak Sr., a Mingo Junction police officer who was killed in the line of duty, he served first as a part-time officer for the village in 1984.

He was promoted to full-time the following year and later worked for 10 years as a detective for the department, taking part in a series of undercover drug stings organized by then Jefferson County Prosecutor Stephen Stern.

Maguschak was appointed police chief in 2003 and found himself the department’s only officer for a time when the closing of the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel mill resulted in cuts to the village’s budget.

He noted he and other officers with the department initially accepted pay cuts to keep it running.

Maguschak served as police chief, the village’s administrator and as a police academy instructor at Eastern Gateway Community College for a few years.

He said after resigning from his Mingo Junction positions, he learned of an opening for Wellsburg city manager in 2015.

Maguschak said he had gained some familiarity with the city through former Wellsburg city manager Howard Armstrong, who had volunteered to serve as Mingo Junction’s administrator for several months.

“Wellsburg is kind of unique with its Applefest and its weeklong celebration of the Fourth of July. It still has that small-town charm. The people have treated me well,” he said.

He said in a smaller city with about 2,300 people, it has several thriving churches and fraternal organizations.

Maguschak said the city also has had council members and mayors, including Dan Dudley and the late Sue Simonetti, who have been very concerned about its future.

Dudley said of Maguschak, “It’s been an honor working with him because of all of the knowledge he has brought to the job.”

Maguschak admitted he’s looking forward to spending more time with his wife of 28 years vacationing, camping and motorcycling.

Until then, he has agreed to remain with the city as a part-time consultant until at least Jan. 23 to assist his successor, Erica Tamburin, who is slated to be administered oaths of office today.

Tamburin previously served as administrator for the Village of Shadyside, Ohio.

Of the transition, Maguschak said, “I think it’s good to have new ideas and younger people. I don’t believe in people holding offices for long periods of time.”

He said he’s hopeful new leadership will bring new ideas and progress to Wellsburg.