Ark City Commission and City Manager Steve Archer negotiated a deal for him to resign, as they desired, without having to fire him.
I should say as most of them desired. It was pretty clear that Mayor McDonald supported Archer and didn't want this. But the other four, or at least three of them, apparently did. This makes two managers "resigned" in three years.
There are two theories at work:
1) That Steve just didn't cut the mustard and could not manage department heads to carry out the commission's will/goals.
2) That Steve was overpowered and undermined by commissioners who micro manage and stir the pot inside City Hall, making him the fall guy.
I suppose a third would be some truth in both. We know Mell Kuhn has tried to micro manage the police and water/sewer departments and that Dottie is strong willed. They came in as outsiders and certainly don't follow the establishment. Snell is a former schools superintendent who is used to running the show. Steve certainly isn't a forceful person and perhaps he was better suited to his previous job as administrative director rather than CEO.
What to do next? They aren't too high on Lane Massey, the second in command, either. Does the commission have the humility to find a professional, experienced city manager and let them run the city under their goals/objectives?
Will other top level resignations follow?
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25 comments:
Sadly, they already had an experienced City Manager, Doug Russell, and didn't want to let him do his job. They ran him off just like they've run off everyone else who exhibited integrity and refused to bow to the private agendas involved... sad, sad, sad...
The short answer is (2). Could the the long answer be in how all of the commissioners (except) McDonald have threatened, harassed, and retaliated against staff (with more surely to come). Does anyone know how many lawsuits and harassment complaints the city (or commissioners) have against them? Maybe Kake on your side should look into a few things. Maybe someone in the know has some answers. It seems like the commissioners have all the answers but what has it cost the city and community, and what will it cost?
It's not micro managing, it's being a good elected officer.
I guess I am confused the previous commission you said were the ones that were micro-managing. In the last election we voted down anyone who might agree with old regime. The people were told that voting for anyone who agreed with that commission was a vote against Arkansas City. It worked they were shut out.
IN WITH THE NEW
Diametrically opposed this new commission would in fact shut down the old and bring in the new.
After about 18 months or so, while on some areas they still disagree, they have begun to work together as a cohesive team if you will. Still very much independent, they are, learning to be informed. They research, make phone calls, take calls and work late into the night, for the people of Arkansas City.
Now these two opposite sides agreed last night 5-0 to do this.
Therefore, if two different commissions, with two different, platforms come to the same conclusion is the problem really the commission or is in fact the leadership of the administration.
This commission has worked tirelessly for the people of Arkansas City and will continue to do so in the coming months
Like a jury we don't get to see everything they see. Folks we know these people, these commissioners. We go to church with them, we shop with them, are at meetings they are at. They are not some no named no face group.
Any employee can file any kind of claim, the proof will be in the end.
These commissioners are not rash people, they don't make snap quick to rush judgments. They are thoughtful people intent on doing the right thing.
Sometimes we don't want to see what is right in front of us. We will never know what they know or have had to deal with. but i trust them as a group and I beleive they have acted with great thought for the taxpayer.
Thank you to the poster at December 8, 2010 7:51 AM.
Finally, a thoughtful analysis.
To the posters before you....PUHLEASE.
Leave your agenda-driven drabble on the sidelines.
Doug wasn't forced out. He left on his own when he didn't get his way (read TIF) which was to be the jewel in his crown and propel him to the next big job.
Any commission would love a manager without their own personal private political agenda. One who is not controlled by other interests but who is objective and works to carry out the will of the commission and treat the city staff with the respect they deserve.
The main trouble was his indefatigable defense of Lane in each and every circumstance when Lane should have been disciplined or even terminated. Beyond that, he did not exercise proper oversight of the departments and rarely gave the commission the answers they were asking for.
The next manager needs to be someone who is not a desk jockey, not a pencil pusher, not a bureaucrat. Someone who is used to managing people and working with a board of directors or strong leadership accountability and willing to roll up their sleeves and get things done. They also need the gumption to clean house to the tune of about 4 or 5 positions. No more coddling.
I think that for far to long the taxpayer has been overlooked. We are paying big city salaries on a little town tax roll. And getting not much in return. On the other hand what could we look forward too..... well.......
while i know you get what you pay for, I look at the hospital CEO, maybe a little more than we are used to paying but he came to little ole Ark City and he is doing the work of 3 people. He works non stop to promote the hospital and the community it is wihtin.
If we pull it together we can get a city manager that can do that too.
Charcter - Conviction. Commissioner McDonald should resign as well. He said one thing and voted the other way.
Finally. At least we know there is a hit list. Dotty is well known for directing the City Manager to terminate people she and Kanyon don't like...or who "hurt" her feelings. That is why Doug Russell is gone. Maybe someone should ask Commissioner Smith how many times in executive session she has brought up employees she wants fired (the so called hit list)?
Talk about mis-direction....... that was really silly.... even for an anonymous post......
10:30AM YOU MUST ADMINISTRATION OR A COMMISSIONER OR FULL OF BULL; HOW ELSE WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT WENT ON IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION
Kuhn and Smith are history at the next election. Mark my words. They drove Doug out, and now he is making the City he moved to thrive while we are stuck in the past.
Well from what I gathered of the Doug Russell escapade - he came to town and ran into a steam roller when he tried to reorganize the City!
I think I even heard rumblings of how he was trying to restructure the job classiifications and paygrades! Not to the liking of any of the employees. (At least the ones I overheard talking.)
Then there was the Lowe's thingy and ACI used every trick in the book to get that project on their land! (I think their still trying) (Why do grownups act like children?)
Split the City right down the middle!
Those boarded up windows downtown were knocked out by the cannon balls from the SS HNB and Union State Bank! (Probably bounced off the walls of other buildings.)
Which brings me to my final point - The Sheriff has to put an officer at the Theater at Strother Field on the W/E to keep down the fights between AC and Winfield Kids.
I wonder who taught them how to FIGHT!
They either need a City Manager who can referee or one who likes to FIGHT!
If you spoke with City Managers across this wonderful nation you would hear them all say the same thing. Well, maybe not all but the ones who want to continue their career would.
You count the number of elected officials on your governing body. You add up half plus one. That's how many you have to satisfy on a daily basis.
And, despite what many think, the governing body IS the boss for the manager. Every successful, and even unsuccessful ones, know.
The Commission is not your enemy. You, the voting citizens, choose them. Perhaps you will be ,more content with outcomes if you take a bit more interest in who's seeking the office and what their thoughts are about the direction of the community as well as how they might go about moving the city in that direction.
Ark City has voted reactive for nearly two decades. We have not chosen visionaries. We have chosen populists. We vote for whom we want out and so you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.
Don't like them? Stop picking them. But, folks it's about time to pick leaders you can and will stick with and stand behind for more than one term. That alone is the key to stability, accountability and progress.
That remains true in government, management, and even in marriage. You don't vote for flash, unrealistic promise, slick talk or with blinded eyes. You need to think about what direction you want for the city - a real adult dialog and action plan - then seek to elect voices of leadership to move you in that direction.
It's time to stop voting people in April and then listing these fantastic conspiracy theories beginning in May.
When the community act grown up, we will attract a top notch City Manager who has integrity and effect people leadership skills. He will task the commission to articulate a clear direction, press them to work out their quirks for the sake of the citizens and then roll up his sleeves to build the team around him to get it done.
No successful City manager has ever let his subordinates set direction or policy. No successful city has ever let the City manager operate in defiance of the will of the voice of the people.
Lets get there folks.
December 8, 2010 7:32 PM
You are the writer of the hour..... that was everything real. Well said words to hold on to.
Hmmmm.... You don't suppose the manager lying to the commission, was the last straw do you? Ask about the lastest law suit ie; rural water district issues that the manager told commissioners it was takin care of. City hall secrets? If you only knew?
Poster at: December 8, 2010 7:32 PM
Please send me an email.
Thanks.
aseyec@gmail.com
"We all know Kuhn tried to micromanage the police", really?
"We all know Kuhn tried to micromanage the police", really?
December 13, 2010 3:22 PM
Commissioner Kuhn is one of 5 who voted. He is not the mayor, nor the vice mayor, he is a commissioners. While you would like to blame Mell Kuhn for this and global warming, the price of fuel, and whatever else you can think of the bottom line is that it was not one commissioner, it was 5-0.
Actually it was 5-0 to accept the separation agreement. It was 4-1 to get rid of the manager. Get your facts right. Kuhn has been a disgrace to this city for years. Good riddance to him in April.
If Archer had brought Wallace and the police departments spending in line, he might still be here. Could you tell me who is responsible for management if the city manager isn't doing his job?
December 14, 2010 6:16 PM
My facts are right.... there was not a public vote to get rid of the CM. there was a 5-0 vote to change the contract. Effective J-2 the contract would be to work at will. In effect to fire the CM if he were still employed on J-2
Funny how no matter how you try to spin it, it still comes up 5-0
December 14, 2010 8:20 PM
The City Commission is and they did their job.....
and A Good Job they Did...
I thought the Police Department came in under budget? Wouldn't that be saving money? Who has the facts? Can someone put up some numbers?
Hmmm, could under budget, mean the budget is to big in the first place. Just because it's there doesn't mean it's being spent wisely. Look at the appropriations and some of the expenditures.
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