A career change can be a fresh start, but it can also be a new way to serve the same neighbors. I’m joined by Mitch Harkema, the City of Walker’s new communications manager, and he brings a perspective you rarely hear in municipal public relations: more than a decade working inside the City of Walker, including years as a Walker police officer and hands-on community engagement work that already had him communicating with residents every day.

We dig into what makes city communications work when trust is the goal. Mitch talks about building real relationships, showing up consistently, and translating city operations into plain language people can actually use. With Walker growing and shifting, that steady approach matters, especially when residents want transparency, quick answers, and fewer surprises from local government.

We also spend time on the proposed public safety millage coming before Walker voters and how the city plans to educate the public. Mitch walks through the outreach plan, including updates on walker.city, dedicated information at walker.city/public-safety-millage, and the City of Walker, Walker Police, and Walker Fire Facebook pages. He explains why in-person conversations still matter, from community events to open house opportunities at all three fire stations and the police department, where people can see facilities firsthand and ask direct questions.

If you care about public safety, local government, and how a city communicates through change, this conversation is for you. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, share this with a neighbor in Walker, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

If you have comments about this podcast, or ideas for future episodes, please email us at [email protected]