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Development director’s resignation not expected to impact city projects

Staff file photo by Gary Stelzer Mike Robinette, city economic development director, has resigned from his position effective Jan. 31.

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer 2:56 AM Friday, January 14, 2011

MIDDLETOWN — After two years of shepherding millions of dollars in investments as the city’s economic development director, Mike Robinette warned not all growth is good growth.

“I have stated repeatedly that the city is very well-positioned for high-quality growth and that how the city grows is much more important then how much the city grows,” Robinette said. “The city can and should be selective about the opportunities that will come its way.”

Robinette, who joined the city in 2009 as economic development director, submitted his resignation Wednesday. His last day is Jan. 31.

The resignation came a week after Robinette was involved in an incident with a councilman where police were called. However, he emphasized that did not influence his decision to leave. In addition, City Manager Judy Gilleland said Robinette was not asked to resign.

He said he is pursuing an opportunity in the private sector, which he did not identify but said is a move he’s been considering for about a month.

“The timing was good in terms of the status of projects I have been working on, and the opportunity to get the educational requirements (for my new job) completed in a compressed schedule,” he said.

One of the largest Middletown projects in negotiations regards opening a Cincinnati State Technical and Community College branch campus downtown. Robinette said he wanted to leave either before the project “got under way or (until) it got completed” in order to cause the least disruption. As it stands, the financial agreement is still being arranged, and he said there is no reason his departure should impact it.

Plans for the branch campus will continue, Gilleland said.

“We have a team of staff members and consultants working on the many facets of this complex project,” she said.

“Cincinnati State is a top priority project for the city and (we are) committed,” she added.

Gilleland said she will be take the next week “to assess the possibilities and then begin putting a plan in place” to fill Robinette’s position.

Robinette said he feels the city has made tremendous progress on projects such as the $7.4 million Greentree Health Sciences Academy and its focus on demolishing dilapidated buildings during his time.

“I think we have focused on achieving results and have been effective in doing so,” he said.

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