City of Upper Arlington, Ohio

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City Manager

Virginia Barney, City Manager
Brief Biography

Ginny Barney has been the City Manager at the City of Upper Arlington since October 2000.  She has brought with her many years experience as a businesswoman and community leader.

Prior to joining Upper Arlington as City Manager, Ginny served as Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas from May 1998 until she accepted her position with the City.  She was sought out to assume that role to restore confidence and return integrity to the Office of the Clerk of Courts, following the resignation of her predecessor, who was convicted of theft in office.

Previously, Ginny was the owner/operator of the Barney Corporation, an industrial distribution company, for more than 20 years.  She has served as Mayor and City Council member of Upper Arlington, Chair Person for the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio, Chair of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), and Director of Greater Columbus Promise for Youth.

Currently, her community involvement includes: serving as Chair of the Executive Board of Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security; treasurer of the Central Ohio Municipal Alliance; member of the Board of MORPC; member of the Upper Arlington Rotary Club; secretary of the Upper Arlington Community Improvement Corporation; member of the Ohio City/County Management Association; participant in the Central Ohio and the Ohio First Suburbs Consortiums; participant of the National League of Cities First Tier Suburbs Committee; member of the Upper Arlington Community Foundation.  Her leadership skills have been recognized through numerous awards.

Ginny is a chapter author in the recently published book, Women on Fire: 20 Inspiring Women Share Their Life Secrets (and Save You Years of Struggle) compiled by Debbie Phillips.

Since joining the City of Upper Arlington, Ginny has been at the helm of implementing many exciting community projects that are laying the foundation for the community's future success, turning the vision and policymaking of City Council into reality.

During the past few years, the City has acquired and developed ten acres of new parkland, built a new water park, and is almost completed the building of a new fire and police facility.  These projects were funded using existing monies thanks to the City's prudent financial policies.

The Upper Arlington community continues to seek ways to preserve its unique residential nature and high quality of life through working to facilitate the redevelopment of its commercial districts such as Kingsdale, seeking out alternate revenue sources to assure the community's fiscal health, and constantly striving to maintain and improve the high level of services it provides its citizens.

With a commitment to economic development efforts, the City has welcomed many significant new businesses and development projects, which in turn have helped solidify the City's income tax revenues.  The community has been undergoing extensive infrastructure improvements, with a revolving seven-year Capital Improvements Program dedicating more than $5 million annually to improving roadways, underground infrastructure and more.

Ginny's love for and commitment to the Upper Arlington community is apparent by the many volunteer and leadership hours she has dedicated over the years.  Under her expert leadership, the City is clearly in the process of creating a new history for Upper Arlington.