The emails showed a discussion - and disagreement - over what kind of weapon the police department should be using.
Kuhn felt McDonald was using the situation to try to make him look bad and accused him of "grandstanding."
McDonald did not say much, but after the meeting, he said members of the media asked him about the emails first.
You may see the full story here
or visit the site. www.arkcityrevived.com
I think I actually agree with Mel,
ReplyDeleteI must be ill.
Mell did follow proper procedure.
ReplyDeletePatrice is a moron he doesn’t micromanage because he doesn’t know anything.
ReplyDeleteMcDonald sure looks like the one trying to cause trouble, just for troubles sake.
ReplyDeleteA certain commissioner probably went home to his mommies house to cry on her should while she held him in the fetal position. Go suck your thumb!
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that any of them are mature enough to have the titles that they do.
ReplyDeleteWithout counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
ReplyDeleteI do beleive that each of these elected officials are mature enough and capable of leading as City Council members.
Rather than argue their notions of what is appropriate conduct, they should turn the the resources at their disposal to gain common understanding of how governance in municipality.
Any elected official in teh state of Kansas is made aware of information sources. Any first tie elected official needs to utilize them so that they can more quickly grasp effective leadership tools and methods.
Arkansas City tends to spend its time trying to create every scenario as if it has never happened before. That islandic mentality has us spinning our wheels on the ice and, while you don't necessarily lose ground doing that, you certainly do waste energy.
The citizens do not benefit - other than a sordid entertainment that some may enjoy - from reading about or watching the five commissioners fight about whose right about how to govern.
There is a outstanding workshop on Council dynamics and another on Council-City Manager dynamics. They should attend both as a whole group.
Comment two: There are NO emails generated by an elected official that are off limits. REcall that the private citizen connected with the SC governor scandal learned the hard way, public official literally means public.
ReplyDeleteIn some istances, certain legal discussions may be withheld (executive session topics) but those are defined by state statute. On other levels of government, defense might also shield some topics from public view.
Generally, open records allows that any written correspondence should be available to the general public. (Check KOMA or ask Representative Kelley)
Public record or not, McDonald released the e-mails with a personal agenda. We need a city commission that expends its energy on what is best for the community, not what is best for the individual's agenda.
ReplyDeleteAnon1, So then this is more distressing. Commissioner McDonald auditioned for four years. Then with eight people to select from, was he chosen to serve for an addiotional four years even though it was clear that he (and the other who were elected) were diamtertrically opposed to the position and philosophy of Kuhn and Smith.
ReplyDeleteThe voters knew there would be in-fighting. Is the greater issue with the Commission or with the moving target expectations of the electorate?
I am tired of the spending. I have to watch every dollar in my household, but the department leaders can just buy it. Steve Archer seems nice enough but he is not watching out for the taxpayer. And while Charles is elequent with words he is missing the point. We are tired of the spending for the sake of spending.
ReplyDeleteSo the commissioner spoke up, asked the questions. If Archer doesn't want to answer questions then they have something to hid.
The way I read the emails they were sent to Archer and Archer forwards them to Wallace instead of answering the questions himself and taking the leadership role like he is paid to do. Makes you miss the days when Curt Freeland was in charge.
This kind of wasted energy, taxpayer money, and time didn't happen on his watch.
"way I read the emails they were sent to Archer and Archer forwards them to Wallace instead of answering the questions himself "
ReplyDeleteThats the way a good leader should act! City manager gets a question about law enforcement he should ask the police chief, Fire trucks and EMS, ask the fire chief, water lines, ask the water department, Thats why we hire those people for their specific expertise in these areas. I do not like wasteful spending either, but I for one want our public safety and city workers have the very best equipment that keeps them safe! I made need them some day and want them to have the best equipment.
I might not miss the point (or maybe I do). I maintain that the genuine need is the best local government we can have. The includes the highest levels of accountability and integrity. It also defines progressive and cooperative teamwork.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, the best idea is not a good idea if you cannot afford it. The counter is, can you really afford to wait. Any home Ec person can tell that some matters deferred make costly mistakes.
However, with this in-fighting and the level of disrespect amongst the leaders, no one is fostering such dialog.
It's like our own version of The Jerry Springer show minus the strong men to hold the people apart. As for the 10:38pm post, please consider that Arkansas City is not a text book model of municipal government. Every city is not staffed proportionally as we are. Some have more and others less. That is less of a population driven decision and more influenced by the total revenue available to operate.
Consider:
City Hall is the administrative center for the City of Andover. It holds the offices of the City Administrator and City Superintendent as well as the Accounting/Finance Department, Planning & Zoning, and the Building Department. Most city licenses and permits may be obtained at City Hall. Additionally, it is the location of the City Council Chambers and Municipal Court room. Sign-ups for the Parks & Recreation programs are centered at City Hall as well as the rental of City maintained buildings and park facilities.
Then check their wealth ranking among Ks cities and see if things make sense.
We will never talk about effective governance until our leaders learn how to talk to each other. They have to be guilty of trying!!