When Mike Tylka walks into the Adams Township municipal building each morning, he does so not just as the township’s new manager, but also as a neighbor. Three months into the role, Tylka has already moved into Adams, a choice he says was deliberate: “I think it’s important to be at the same grocery store, driving the same roads, and seeing the same issues as the residents.”
From Green Tree to Adams
Tylka grew up in Green Tree, in Pittsburgh’s South Hills, where local government caught his attention early. He remembers sitting through his first council meeting as part of a township anniversary coloring contest. “I’ve always been fascinated by how communities work,” he said. That curiosity led him into student government, then political science at Allegheny College, where he threw himself into voter drives and community outreach.
After graduation, he found himself balancing corporate finance with evenings spent volunteering on his local planning commission. It was in those volunteer roles, he says, that he discovered his true passion: shaping communities. That realization eventually took him to the University of Iowa for a master’s degree in urban and regional planning, then across the country to jobs in Wyoming, Denver, and Centre County.
Lessons From the West
Perhaps the most formative stop was Brighton, Colorado, a booming suburb of Denver where Tylka spent more than seven years in community development. “It was rapidly growing, with a large base of long-time residents and an influx of newcomers,” he said. “Kind of like what’s happening here.” That experience taught him how to balance tradition with growth and gave him a “master class” in local government by working with multiple city managers and term-limited elected officials.
Priorities in Adams Township
Adams, with its steady development along Route 228, presents similar challenges. Tylka sees opportunity in how past leaders planned for growth by concentrating retail and traffic-heavy development along the highway, while preserving rural character in other parts of the township. His weekly calls with PennDOT keep him plugged into road projects, signage, and traffic flow.
Over the next three years, his top priority is clear: managing growth responsibly. That means updating zoning regulations, ensuring new development pays its share, and preparing shovel-ready traffic mitigation projects. Internally, he wants to review township processes with a fresh eye to make sure they still meet residents’ expectations.
But for Tylka, success in the role is less about policy jargon and more about everyday life: “Residents shouldn’t have to wonder if the park will be maintained, if the roads will be safe to drive on, or if the police are protecting them. If they don’t have to worry about those things, then we’re doing our job.”
Commitment to Community Resources
One of the first community issues on his desk is the future of the Mars Area Public Library, a partnership supported by Adams, Valencia, Mars, and Middlesex. Recent discussions have shifted away from the previously eyed downtown Mars location, with supervisors opening the door to new possibilities.
“Adams Township is committed to the partnership of the Mars Area Public Library,” Tylka said. To ensure residents’ voices are heard, the township is preparing a survey on the library’s future. “We want to know what residents expect our commitment to be — whether it’s expansion, relocation, or something else. Their voices are going to guide us.”
A Neighbor as Well as a Manager
Already, Tylka has been making rounds with residents, often on issue-driven matters like development and code enforcement. He credits the township’s volunteer boards—Parks and Recreation and Planning Commission—for their dedication and says he’s eager to keep conversations with residents going.
Outside the office, Tylka enjoys hiking, biking, and reconnecting with family and old friends in the Pittsburgh area. His parents still live in the Greentree home where he grew up, and his sister lives nearby in South Fayette.
“I moved back to this region because it’s home,” he said. “And now, in Adams Township, I feel like I’ve found the right place to bring together all of my experiences and serve a community that’s growing but also deeply rooted.”
Five Things to Know About Mike Tylka
- He’s a Neighbor Too
Tylka recently moved into Adams Township so he can live, shop, and drive the same roads as residents. - Passion for Community Planning
His path began on a planning commission in his hometown of Green Tree — sparking a career that’s taken him from Pittsburgh to Iowa, Wyoming, Colorado, and back again. - Experience in Fast-Growing Communities
He spent over seven years in Brighton, Colorado, a suburb of Denver, where he learned to balance growth with the needs of long-time residents. - Focus on Growth Management
Tylka’s top priorities include updating zoning rules, preparing traffic mitigation projects, and making sure new development pays its fair share. - Committed to the Library Partnership
Adams remains a partner in the Mars Area Public Library, and Tylka is seeking resident input on what the library’s future should look like.