Looks like the city commission wants to straighten out City Hall. Elected officials aren't saying so directly, but after the computer mess and the water billing confusion, there seems to be a loss of confidence in leadership inside City Hall.
This whole things goes back to the departure of Doug Russell, a professional city manager who was selected through a rigorous vetting process. He got cross wise with Kuhn, Smith and Margolius. They wanted more direct control over operations and spending, while Russell wanted them to let him run the city. He also pushed the TIF/Lowe's project, while they opposed it.
Russell saw the writing on the wall and left. Steve Archer was promoted to city manager, but I think Steve was placed in a difficult position, asked to run the city but knowing the commission would get involved in the details. We now have a new commission, and the lack of an empowered city manager position may be part of the problem.
In defense of the former commission, the one led by the three amigos, they're "core services" mantra came in handy when the budget shrank, and they did get the hospital and street taxes on the ballot and approved by voters.
Also, the pressures of budget cutting are probably coming to bear on folks at City Hall. Fewer people doing jobs others once did can cause problems.
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9 comments:
Just another reason the two remaining Amigos must be voted out at the earliest opportunity. It was obvious back when the Lowe's fiasco was going on that they were much to interested in micro-managing the City, and not letting our very good City manager do his job. Take a look at the city he left us for, and you will see improvements that could have been ours if they had stayed out of his way.
Too bad it takes a recession to make Government run more efficient!
When times are good and the money flows freely the party is On!
Don't save the taxpayers money - OR save for a rainy day -just spend to the limit so you can ask for more next Year.
If most Small Governments had to run like a real business.
THEY WOULD BE OUT OF BUSINESS!
AND
Big Government is simply a BLACK HOLE!
Their gravitation pull on tax money through wasteful spending is so strong NOTHING CAN ESCAPE!
Not even a ray of light (hope) for the future generations!
The first post is right on! The current commission is full of new Amigo's with their micro-managing. Check out the past manager's town on the internet and you will find a vibrant, progressive town full of amenities for all. The Amigo's ego's pushed out a young agressive manager that would have brought new life to this city. We are back in the same sinking boat, our current city manager will flounder until we all drown.
9:02 & 7:23
Do we live in the same town? I certainly don't think the way you do.
9:02 & 7:23
Do we live in the same town? I certainly don't think the way you do.
Where did this "core services" mantra come into play? The commissioner had nothing to do with dealing with the budget shrinking. As a matter of fact they cost us even more money.
Saving money came from the new city manager, Steve Archer, putting a freeze on all spending half way through the year. He also revised the personnel manual again saving a lot of money. The commissioners had nothing to do with it, and didn't even know of it until the end of the year.
Costing us money is commissioners failing to agree to fix or replace outdated and damaged equipment that caused even more trouble. Equipment that failed in the middle of the year that had to be replaced but wasn't budgeted for. 20 year old truck that was requested to be replaced but the commission refused so when it blew up and caught on fire it took 2 other trucks with it and part of a building. Not replacing police cars on schedule and paying 6 times as much maintenance for the extra year, and losing all of the trade value.
Street taxes have been in the works for years. I'm glad the commission finally put it to the people. But of the commissioners was vocally opposed the new hospital until a month before the tax vote. Fortunately the other two "Amigos" did not support him. And he did eventually become a major supporter and saved a lot of money by recommending the design build concept.
It may be your opinion that the commission saved money and made things happen, but put the facts on the table and let people decide for themselves. If you really want to be a newspaperman start with the facts. This is no doubt an opinion page, but at least start it with a dose of reality then let it take on its own life. Starting with misinformation is just foolishness.
6:56 is no doubt an administrative personnel. So take that information with a grain of salt. And the sour taste that they have in their mouth for the commission.
February 17, 2010 10:52 AM
Right on the source of the post.
And, clearly, it one of the staff who is used to putting spin on every request he/she submits anyway.
Maybe we could have more respect for him/her if they would simply go and sound off to the commission instead of sniping them on the blogs.
I mean, if you have that much conviction that the commission is always wrong, go tell them. If you won't go tell them, maybe you are just licking your wounds from being told no to a few frivolous requests.
Someone said a department head and maybe one or two supervisors got real nervous when the Commission discussed reviewing city computers to see if staff was using them to anonymously attack the commission on the blogs.
"Someone said" and "I heard" are the most commonly used phrases on this blog. Besides listening to gossip and spreading rumors has anyone taken the time to verify any of this information? Before you answer, it is still worthless information unless you can cite your source. Obviously the newspaper people cannot or will not. Why do people continue to push their opinions and not demand answers? Are the readers as much afraid to be found out as the writers?
In all the time I've read these blogs I can only think of a few who were unafraid to list their names. There was at least one, and maybe two commissioners, and not many others. What difference does it make? And why don't those that did sign their names come back?
I'm staying anonymous until someone can answer, or until the facts are layed out and verified.
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