SerpApi.Org
BAY CITY, MI – After 26 years with Bay City and close to a decade as city manager, Dana Muscott is settling into retirement and reflecting on a career that saw the city through major developments, controversies and a wave of leadership changes.
The 57-year-old Muscott said the biggest challenge ahead will be adjusting to life without the daily interactions that defined her career.
“It’s going to be the people,” she said of what she would miss most. “My days have been filled with seeing our employees—we have 300 employees—and filled with meetings with community partners. That’s what I’m going to miss the most because I’ve been doing it for so long.”
Muscott’s career with Bay City began after working for Saginaw Township as a deputy city clerk for about 10 years. She was recruited by then-Bay City Clerk Connie Deford, who approached her during a training class about taking over the position. At the time, Muscott’s two children were 4 and 1, she said.
She worked as city clerk before being promoted to deputy city manager, overseeing administration while another deputy handled operations. She served under three city managers and was interim city manager multiple times before finally accepting the permanent position in 2017.
“I was nervous at first,” Muscott said. “But what calmed me about it was all the department heads and I had grown up in the organization. We all started at the ground and worked our way up.”
She credited her team for major initiatives including housing developments, lead water line replacements and the continued development of the Uptown area along the river. The Uptown project, which began under a previous administration, features apartments, townhouses, restaurants and healthcare facilities.
Her tenure was not without controversy. Muscott addressed criticism over the city’s bridge lease arrangement, the DoubleTree hotel situation and the State Theatre saga.
Regarding the bridges, she said the lease process was already underway when she became city manager. She also said she doesn’t blame the commissioners for the decision they made at the time.
“I’m the one that carries through with the commission motion. I’m not making these decisions in a silo all by myself and saying, ‘Hey, let’s lease these bridges,’” she said. “They were working with what we had and we didn’t have a lot at that time. We asked the state for help over and over and over and we didn’t get anything.”
She defended the DoubleTree development as a catalyst for surrounding growth, though acknowledged ownership challenges. On the State Theatre matter, she said the actions of Michael Bacigalupo, once a city employee, did not fall under city business.
Social media criticism took a personal toll, particularly on her family, Muscott said. Her teenage sons and retired parents saw negative comments online.
“I have never done any ill will for Bay City,” she said. “I’ve done what’s good for the residents.”
She plans to spend retirement with her husband. The couple enjoy golfing and traveling. She’s also preparing to become a first-time grandmother in December.
Despite stepping away from city hall, Muscott said she’ll remain connected to Bay City.
“I still love Bay City,” she said. “I’m still going to come back. I’m going to go to the restaurants, come to the festivals. It’s the best around.”
©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit mlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
