Kim Haws still remembers his first time going through the City of Bridgeport. It was in the late 1990s and he and his wife Toni were traveling down Interstate 79 to look at the place they were soon to call home.

 

It was a moment that’s etched clearly in his mind for what he witnessed.

 

“It was a later winter evening and overcast when we got onto Route 50 and headed past Emily Drive into Bridgeport. We drove down Route 50 all the way to the airport and I turned and asked my wife ‘have we gone through the downtown already.’ That was my introduction to Bridgeport,” said Haws.

 

Friday may have very well been the last day Haws steps inside the Bridgeport Municipal Complex as an employee of the City of Bridgeport. Although the current city manager’s contract doesn’t expire until midnight Sunday, barring an emergency his roughly 20-year run managing the day-to-day affairs of Bridgeport is over.

 

When he gets out of bed Monday morning and plants his feet on the ground, it’s officially over. Haws didn’t complain when asked what he would think.

 

“It's been a great ride for me and my family and me professionally,” said Haws.

 

Haws’ arrival in 1999 with his wife Toni also included a substantial load of youngsters that were about to be introduced into the community.

 

“We have 10 children and when we arrived we had six of those children with us,” said Haws.

 

What a lot of people don’t know is Haws and his wife adopted three of those 10 children. A lot of people also weren’t aware the couple served as foster parents for 26 years. Now, perhaps a lot of people will realize why Haws often drove in a rather large van more suitable for a college sports team than the typical family.

 

With 10 kids, all now adults, you need the extra room.

 

“My wife and I argue about the actual number, but we have around 30 grandchildren,” said Haws with a laugh.

 

Before growing the family, Haws looked back on how he felt he helped Bridgeport grow. Ironically, it started in the area he first drove through – the downtown.

 

Among the first tasks undertaken was a comprehensive study and effort to revitalize the city’s downtown. Since his arrival, millions have been spent on streetscape efforts, upgrades to the Benedum Civic Center and pool, business façade improvements and much more.

 

“We had a really great committee that worked hard, were persistent and applied for grants successfully to finish it out (from Virginia Avenue to Route 131),” said Haws. “That same grant program is still being utilized today.”

 

The most recent grant is improving the city’s complex walking trail system. Bridgeport has received funding for a walking trail that will tie Main Street into Deegan and Hinkle Lakes.

 

“That’s a phase that will continue after I’m gone,” said Haws.

 

Haws said there were too many things to specifically point out but was pleased with the city’s ongoing economic growth. It was growth that was taking place before he arrived and continued until he departed.

 

The growth during his term has been substantial. According to figures provided by City Finance Director Monica Musgrave, Brideport had a 1999-2000 fiscal year original budget of $5.6 million and a 2019-20 orginal FY budget at $16.7 million.

 

“For one, we’ve been fortunate to have some tremendous economic development projects occur over the last 20 years. Two, staff has done a good job of holding the line on not allowing expenditures to overwhelm revenues,” said Haws. “You add that to how we’ve projected budgets conservatively on the revenue side and we’ve tried to maintain the ‘hold the line’ philosophy, especially on personnel. Most personnel growth has been out of necessity … due to the growth.”

 

Haws said he doesn’t know of a city in the country the size of Bridgeport, aside from ones outside of larger suburban or metro areas, in a rural setting that have experienced such growth. He said it’s an anomaly.

 

“I think it would be hard to find another city that’s done this well with the same geographic similarities and demographics,” he said.

 

The reason?

 

“I’ve worked with a wonderful group of individuals on City Council, department heads and employees,” said Haws. “Together, as a team, we’ve helped contribute to a good quality of life here in Bridgeport. There’s a lot of satisfaction to see little influences I may have had in positive way that has affected that quality of life for this community.

 

“What made it all easier, and it was from the very beginning, is everyone I talked to when I got here wasn’t opposed to change; they knew it was going to happen and were more interested in controlling it,” he continued. “Frankly, I’ve dealt with municipalities where change wasn’t looked at in any type of favorable way.”

 

Haws’ past includes two former stints as city manager. He did the gig previously in Arizona and Ohio before making his current stop in Bridgeport that’s ending.

 

What’s the future hold? Perhaps another gig as city manager? Or something else?

 

Actually, the immediate future is already set. And, Haws is looking forward to it.

 

“I’m involved in a group with 90 young men in a Pioneer Handcart trek, which is a four-day project where those individuals experience life as the Pioneers experienced it,” said Haws about the excursion to Cheat Mountain. “That’s next and after that I’m not slowing down. This is just the start of the next page.”

 

The next page involves some of the things on the city manager front, but not as an actual city manager. Haws will operate his own business that will feature a municipal administrative flavor.

 

“I’ve got a small business, an LLC, to do counseling as well as professional counseling and consulting with other municipalities and agencies,” said Haws. “I feel like there’s an awful lot, especially for smaller municipalities in the state that can’t afford to bring in large firms to help them out, I can share with them having spent the last 30 years in municipal government. The goal with those groups will be the same and that’s to make life better for those individuals in their respective communities.”

 

As it ends, Haws said there’s some bittersweet feelings. He points to a few things he would have liked to seen through and some things he wanted to get started.

 

Most notable, he said, was being there for the completion of the Bridgeport Indoor Sports and Recreation Complex, which he believes will be a game changer. And he had plans to work harder to increase a post-secondary education here in Bridgeport by working with Fairmont State University on expanding its operations at Charles Pointe or through other entities.

 

Still, he’s walking away with his head high.

 

“Sure, there’s relief from struggles the last few years. Now, I’ll have time to work in my garden and spend more time with my grandkids and hopefully build my business,” said Haws.

 

Where will that garden be?

 

“We’ve put down roots here. This is our community. My job was much more than a job. This was a place to raise my children and we raised a lot of them here,” Haws said. “It’s important to me to know we were outsiders who were accepted and made to feel a part of the community and still feel that way. I can’t foresee a time to leave this area nor do I want to. This will remain my home.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Kim Haws, right, with Council member Dustin Vincent at the groundbreaking for the Bridgeport Indoor Sports and Recreation Complex, while the second photo is of Haws at a Development Authority session. In the third photo Haws makes a point during a Council work session and does the same in the fourth photo where he's addressing the Bridgeport Utility Board. In the fifth photo, a familiar scene during regular session would see Haws get information from City Attorney Dean Ramsey, while in the sixth photo Haws is addressing a Council work session as Finance Director Monica Musgrave looks on. In the bottom photo, Haws is shown making up donuts at the city's annual Light Up Night event as one of the most popular items each year. First and last photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.