A look at what Lawrence’s new city manager has learned so far, and a peek at a possible debate to come

With about one month on the job, City Manager Craig Owens already has made some observations about his new community.

For one thing, we have plenty to say in public meetings. Owens has been to three City Commission meetings, and booked about 12 hours as part of them. The long meetings haven’t scared him away.

“You care and you should,” said Owens, who previously served as city manager for Clayton, Mo., just outside St. Louis. Such a process may not always produce a quick consensus, but Owens said he’s OK with that.

“It is hard and it takes time, but it works,” he said. “It works.”

Although he’s still probably more of an expert on St. Louis, Owens also has learned something about Kansas City in his short time here. Lawrence doesn’t want to be Kansas City. As the luncheon speaker at a recent chamber of commerce event, Owens said he readily picked up on Lawrence’s “pride in uniqueness.”