by Mary Loden
Clear Lake City Administrator Scott Flory announced the resignation of Wellness Center Director Adam Long at the July 7 City Council Meeting. Long has been employed as Director for slightly more than two years. His resignation from his position was effective August 11.
Before moving to Clear Lake to become the first Director of the Wellness Center Long had been the head strength and conditioning coach at Liberty Hospital Sports Medicine in Liberty Missouri. He said he had been with them for over seven years before fellow Northwest Missouri State University alum Troy Tysdahl told him about the sports and wellness facility Clear Lake was planning on building.
He applied, got the job and moved here with his wife Carlie and their three children from Gladstone, Missouri. Carlie started teaching at Clear Lake the beginning of the 2021/22 school year. “I took a chance and got out of my comfort zone,” Long said. “I couldn’t believe a facility like this could be in Clear Lake.”
Long said that Liberty Hospital Sports Medicine periodically kept in touch with him until they finally asked, “What would it take to get you back?”
“I know the timing isn’t good,” Long said about his resignation, Carlie’s teaching and school right around the corner for the kids. But he made a point of saying, “Moving back [to Gladstone] is the right thing to do. We know the community really well. It’s home for us.”
Flory told the City Council, “I appreciate the good work that Long did getting the facility up and operational, however, it was bittersweet to see such a short tenure in that capacity with the city.”
Flory also indicated that the existing Wellness Center staff and other City departments have been working on the short-term transition plan. “I really want to recognize our Wellness Center staff, the City Hall Administrative team, Parks Dept. staff, and many others for stepping up on quite short notice,” he said.
“I will soon be meeting with the Wellness Center Advisory Board to discuss the next steps concerning the executive director position,” Flory said. “However, again, the immediate emphasis has been on ensuring we are stabilized for the short-term.”
