Sterling City Manager John Sheldon Shares Positivity with Rotary Club

Nearly three months into his new role, Sterling City Manager John Sheldon says he’s thrilled to be part of the community and sees plenty of energy for positive change.

Speaking to the Sterling Rotary Club on Wednesday, Sheldon said he’s been impressed by how many residents and city staff “want to see Sterling move forward.”

He highlighted several areas of collaboration — including work between the city, the Sterling Urban Renewal Authority and Logan County — to bring more visual excitement downtown during the holidays. That could later expand into permanent lighting displays, similar to what nearby cities like Brush have done.

Sheldon also pointed to a strong partnership with the Logan County Economic Development Corporation, where city and county leaders are exploring new business opportunities. The two governments recently agreed to share the cost of an engineering study for a proposed industrial site near the county landfill.

The city manager said he’s focused on strengthening Sterling’s branding, road maintenance, and cooperation with other agencies. A major paving project begins Monday near the Logan County Visitor Center, and Sheldon praised the teamwork between city, county, and state officials on the effort.

He also discussed Sterling’s ballot measure to add a 1% sales and use tax for roads, sidewalks, and drainage improvements — saying the city needs a master drainage plan to guide future work.

And when it comes to code enforcement, Sheldon said he’s committed to holding both residents and the city accountable — noting that if city facilities aren’t maintained, he wants to hear about it.

Overall, Sheldon described his first few months as “very exciting” and said he welcomes feedback from residents as Sterling works to move forward together.