‘Tough road ahead’
Resignations come at bad time for cityBy CARRIE OLSON Daily Freeman-Journal staff writer
A day after Webster City council members Melissa Borer and Mark Gillette resigned from their elected positions, City Manager Ed Sadler and the remaining council members expressed their confusion.
"It has obviously been very confrontational," Sadler said. "That hasn't been the best for our city, especially with Electrolux closing. We have a tough road ahead. We are going to have to pull together and not be sidetracked by other issues."
He added, "If it will help us move forward, it is a good thing. I don't think I have ever been in a place where elected officials believe that it has gone this far, that this was their only course of action. I don't think it was a very gracious exit, but that was their choice also."
Sadler, referring to a major reason for the council members' resignations, said, "It's unfortunate that I have been such a focus."
Re-elected council member Janet Adams said she did not foresee this ending.
"I was very surprised at the announcement that they were going to resign," she said. "I think it is unfortunate. If they had an issue, they should have stayed and worked through the issues concerning them."
Jerry Kloberdanz echoed Adams' sentiment.
"It is unfortunate that they decided to resign," he said.
Kloberdanz was also recently re-elected.
"I didn't run against Mark or Melissa," he said. "I ran for the seat that I held. I look over what is best for Webster City, not what is my personal preference."
Newly elected Councilwoman Linda Conaway could only speculate about a council that might have been.
"I am really sorry that I didn't get a chance to work with them," she said. "I thought that each one of them had brought up valid points that were worth investigating."
She added, "It was quite a disappointment that I have been labeled a 'rubber stamper,' before I even had a chance to participate on the council. But if this is what they feel is in the best interest for the community, then we will just have to move forward."
Sadler expressed his frustration over statements that had been made by Borer and Gillette.
"The part that always concerned me most is 'they are all being yes-men to Ed,' which I find very insulting to the council. They never looked at it from another perspective. Do you think that maybe the council agrees with what I am doing because I am doing what the council asks of me to do in the first place from the very get-go? The majority of the council told me what they wanted done. I am trying to do that for them," he said.
"My memos get out to the council early. If they have an issue, they can talk about it beforehand," he said. "We can get it resolved before it goes public. They don't like this or that part. Fine. Somehow the public confrontation proves that you are doing your job. No. If you have done your job, it has been done beforehand."
He talked about the group that had backed Adams, Conaway and Kloberdanz, Citizens for Positive Leadership.
"I think people wanted a positive image of their hometown. Who wants to live in a town where people think badly of it. I think that is what they wanted to speak up and be heard about."
He praised Webster City.
"Most towns of this size do not have all that we have," he said. "We have the whole gamut. We need to be proud of it."
Sadler spoke about his job as city manager.
"I have no intention of taking my job for granted, for going with the flow. I don't think that is why people hired me," he said. "I try to do what is best for the town and what my City Council wants."
He added, "I hope the council can focus on what we have to do. They have a plethora of choices ahead of them. I really want them to set a direction. We are in a recession, competing with other towns facing the same issues. We'd better be able to stand out. We'd better be aggressive. I want our council to have no regrets."
On Monday, the City Council will discuss the resignations and consider options for the appointment or election of council persons to fill their vacancies.
Contact Carrie Olson at (515) 832-4350 or lifestyles@freemanjournal.net
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Andrew
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11-15-09 9:29 PM
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to suzeeque I respect your opinion but why don't we want pulis and ferguson on council. If not them then who would you suggest?
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suzeeque
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11-15-09 6:41 PM
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mvef4wrd and wcborn - we do not want Ferguson or Pulis on the city council. Just because they expressed interest doesn't mean they are the right ones for the job, especially at this time!
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possitivemoments
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11-15-09 3:07 PM
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I heard on t.v. last night that the polls show that Gov. Culver’s popularity has dropped considerable. One of the reasons is because there are a lot of people very angry. This anger reaches from small towns, to the state capital and yet further to the Fed. Capital. Through a lot of posting here and what has happened in W.C. And throughout the United States, (and overseas) we now need to pull together. I wasn’t speaking of any one person “in sheep’s clothing” I’m talking of anyone that thinks they can pull the wool over ALL our eyes. I too, can get much caught up in this negative energy like many have. Shame on me! I wasn’t “making” anyone feel sorry for Ed; He has his own consuence to deal with. I actually was being very sarcastic. Where are we going with this? It is truly scary on what the future is. God has his plans! I don’t believe in consequences, there is a reason for everything. Let us all learn from the mistakes and move forward. Please except my sincere apology,
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USECOMMONSENSE
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11-14-09 3:08 PM
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Hey ,If $95000 a year is poor. We are all in trouble.Stop trying to make us feel sorry for poor ole Ed.Let's demand performance & accountability for those wages.Is this too much to ask in W.C.? Why ?
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onlythetruth
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11-13-09 8:48 PM
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Possitivemoments...No, that person is not me. Yes, it would be best to stop the petty bickering and work together to solve our town's issues. Sure, there will be differences of opinion, but the majority of the council need to make decisions based on the best information available and move on. Arguing about past actions is not productive. I do not understand your references to "wolf" or "when you state" ... please clarify for me.
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possitivemoments
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11-13-09 6:53 PM
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Onlythetruth is that the same person that stood in front of everyone and said they don’t lie? Hummmmm.. again, don’t you think we need to move on and work together. We know who the wolf in sheep clothing is; so let’s figure out how to “out wise” it. People.. we ALL knew that Ed was using Webster City as a stepping stone.. my goodness, let the "poor" man better himself if he chooses. What crime is this? Remember when you state, helping all the citizens that is what you need to do.
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SimpleSimon
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11-13-09 6:25 PM
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onlythetruth,I understand what you say and that what you post is the truth. I voted for those I wanted in. Now I'm railing against the machine, so to speak. There seems to be a lot of behind the scenes pettiness at work in our city government. No different than anywhere else but I don't live anywhere else. Though like our city manager I am looking for better opportunity elsewhere.
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onlythetruth
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11-13-09 5:35 PM
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The City Manager is hired by the City Council to manage the City and serves at the majority on the Council's will. When a majority of the members of the council direct him to take an action he is bound to take that action. If a MINORITY on the council desires that the manager do something specific, they need to convince other members of the council to join them on the issue so they can become the majority and direct the manager to carry out that action. If a current council member doesn't consistently represent your positions, you should work to elect a candidate who will represent you. Rule by majority is the concept. If you are in the minority, you need to work with others to join together and become the majority.
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SimpleSimon
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11-13-09 5:17 PM
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"Who wants to live in a town where people think badly of it." How does a city manager applying for other jobs on occasion project a positive image? Even more so, how does the city manager not being able to get hired anywhere else project a positive image for the community? How does a city manager costing the city an out of court settlement due to responding to a reference request in a rather questionable manner constitute projecting a positive image for the community? As for the perception of the remaining council members being yes-men,it is obvious to anyone either attending a city council meeting or watching it on Mediacom that Adams & Kloberdanz nearly always refrain from "going against the flow." How can it be considered insulting when it is so obviously true? All points already made by peppermintpatty but worth repeating.
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USECOMMONSENSE
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11-13-09 3:47 PM
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How about that full disclosure .Not negative .Just wondering.Apparently not alone.How do we know what to adress if we don't know what or if any companies have for objections to locating here.A report card would be nice.
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USECOMMONSENSE
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11-13-09 3:47 PM
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How about that full disclosure .Not negative .Just wondering.Apparently not alone.How do we know what to adress if we don't know what or if any companies have for objections to locating here.A report card would be nice.
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wcborn
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11-13-09 12:52 PM
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I agree lets appoint Fergeson and Pulis. Atlease until they can arrange a special election if necessary.
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mve4wrd
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11-13-09 12:44 PM
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To save the city money, why not let Jake Pulis and Mark Ferguson move into the two open vacancies? They both received a large amount of votes, so people wanted them in office. Let's not soend a lot of money, and drag this out any longer than necessary. We have huge decisions to make..let's not waste valuable time.
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USECOMMONSENSE
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11-13-09 11:45 AM
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WOW , these all sound like POSITIVE suggestions. I look forward to all the great things ahead. Accountability (no closed sessions,they only lead to distrust)and transperency (council members or anyone for that matter shouldn't need to ask permission to speak to anyone).
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Littja
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11-13-09 11:19 AM
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Perplexed makes a good point. Secrets are like lies, quite often. "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when once we endeavor to deceive..." Remember the Rotschafer mess? Let's have accountability and transparency. Let's have no cronyism. That idea about full disclosure as to what efforts the manager & council have been making on behalf of W.C. is a good one...even if nothing has come of those efforts, the citizens should be able to know exactly what they have been.
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Perplexed
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11-13-09 10:22 AM
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If we are such a great town, why is it that we have so many cliques? Mark & Melissa were never in the right clique from the get go & Ed and his cronies will do whatever they want. Secrets only create more secrets and when you can't talk to an employee without going thru their boss 1st, there is something that they want to hide... if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck then you can be 99.9% sure that it is a duck!
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peppermintpatty
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11-13-09 9:56 AM
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hey ed, practice what you preach. be proud of webster city, don't take your job for granted, do what's best for the town and "your" council - and refrain from applying for other city manager jobs.
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