New city hall team is full speed ahead in Greenfield

American novelist Matthew Woodring Stover is quoted as saying if you take team out of teamwork you just have work, and who wants that?

Greenfield City Hall, following the recent hire of a city clerk, is fully-staffed now. The city’s leadership is eager to move forward on the many projects that are in progress.

City Administrator is Michelle Carns and City Clerk is Jalene Sandin-Sivadge.

The most recent hire, Sandin-Sivadge started earlier this month. She brings years of administrative and customer service experience to the city’s team.

“As an Adair County resident, I look forward to serving my community in this capacity,” Sandin-Sivadge said. “I was drawn to the chance to serve the community in a way that makes a tangible difference. My goals are to bring efficiency and accuracy to the clerk’s office, make sure residents’ needs are handled quickly and provide strong support to staff and elected officials.”

The city clerk and city administrator positions will complement each other while their differences are also pronounced. The city administrator will oversee department administrative duties such as department coordination, project management, grant work and long term planning, while the city clerk handles clerking duties such as meeting agendas and minutes, management of records, building permits and serving as a front-line contact for residents.

Carns started in July as city administrator, carrying with her a background in project management, nonprofit leadership and community development. She has also been heavily involved in Greenfield’s tornado recovery efforts.

“Stepping into this role has allowed me to focus full-time on building systems that will strengthen our city long-term,” Carns said. “The appeal for me was helping Greenfield grow stronger after a difficult year. My goals include improving city systems and transparency, ensuring major projects like infrastructure and recovery initiatives are delivered efficiently and supporting the council and staff with the resources they need to succeed.”

Greenfield’s fire station rebuild is one of the highest-priority projects right now for city leaders. It is currently on track for completion in March 2026. Sandin-Sivadge said she has been off to a “fast start.” One of her first projects has been to document and update city hall processes such as accounts receivable.

“Our focus is supporting the mayor, city council and ultimately the residents of Greenfield,” the leaders said. “By working side-by-side, we make sure both the city’s immediate needs and future plans are taking care of.”

Sandin-Sivadge and Carns are both committed to “openness and service.”

“We want residents to know City Hall is here to serve them,” they said. “Whether it’s a records request, a building permit or question about major projects, we aim to provide clear information and a welcoming environment. Greenfield has been through a lot but we’re excited about where we’re headed — and it’s an honor to serve in these roles.”