City council members should welcome the recommendation that they divest themselves of the responsibility of deciding personnel matters.
“You need to concentrate on the big things,” City Administrator Sid Fleming told them Monday night. “We (city administrators and department heads) get paid to take care of that day-to-day business. Those big policy things, strategic plans, that’s what I want you to concentrate on, not who got in trouble.”
Hear, hear.
Far too often, council members get bogged down in the minutia of city operations. Placing the responsibility of personnel decisions with the city administrator helps prevent city employees whose jobs may be in jeopardy from petitioning council members to plead their case. Management is hard enough without outside lobbyists getting involved. Also, a city administrator, who serves at the pleasure of the council, should not be put in a position of feeling pressured to carry out a personal favor of a council member, if it were to present itself.
AS OUR LEADERS, city council members are elected to take Iola in a forward direction.
A recent example of that leadership is council’s consideration of implementing an optional surcharge on utility bills that would benefit city parks and trails.
For those who desire, a $1 fee would be assessed to monthly water bills. For those who purchase water and electricity from the city, a $2 charge can be routinely assessed.
Such a policy could generate about $58,000 a year.
One use for such funds could be a public restroom near the soccer fields in the Davis Addition. If placed along the Prairie Spirit Trail it would benefit both trail users and the children who play either soccer to the west or T-ball on the diamonds to the south. From spring to fall, the fields are well-used. Design it with a railroad theme and the history of the abandoned railway comes alive. Add a basketball hoop and year-round use is guaranteed. Ask for donations from private citizens, and it’s a slam-dunk.
WE ARE LUCKY to have on our council members with vision, who look for the possibilities of what Iola can be. Remember, they do this on a strictly volunteer basis. The least we can do is reward them with our thanks and praise.
— Susan Lynn
