How’s that Hopey Changey thingy workin’ out for yah?
l3wis 
May 2010
Munson’s last pen stroke?
| 4. | A RESOLUTION ADVISING AND GIVING CONSENT TO THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO CERTAIN CITIZEN BOARDS. |
As expected, Munson appointed as many people as he could before leaving office to volunteer boards at his last city council meeting (Item #4). This will may or may not make Mike’s job easier. These are all good people, and I didn’t see any glaring appointments, but I wonder what Huether thinks of it? Who cares? He really can’t do much about it.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1Gn0e7kvTA[/youtube]
Don: Will you replace department heads and if so how many?
Mike: There’s 12 department heads that are appointed by the mayor ultimately I want to get to know these people even in a stronger way, find out what their strengths and weaknesses are, what they believe the opportunities and issues are of their departments, but ultimately Don there will be some changes among that senior team.
Huether wouldn’t disclose which department heads will be replaced, but is evaluating each one of them right now.
Well here is my best guess.
It is probably safe to say that Jodi Schwan (COS) and Bob Admundson (City Attorney) will no longer be working for the city after May 17. But don’t think that those two are the only ones leaving. There is still a possibility that Jodi could get a job in another department, like media services, if that does not happen, she will probably resign on her own accord. Bob was filling in as a ‘favor’ to Munson and will most likely go back into retirement. If I had to guess about another likely volunteer resignation it would probably be Eugene ‘Montgomery Burns’ Rowenhorst. He also was working for long time friend, Munson. He may stick around for a few months to help with the transition and the 2011 budget, but who knows.
Now here is where it gets tricky. There is no doubt there will be other replacements, but the council must also approve these replacements. A big one will be City Planner, Mike Cooper. Mike has had a lot of criticism over the past few years from the council. Mainly because he has been caught several times hiding information from the council. He also is responsible for the code enforcement mess, and what a mess it is. Since both Mike and Mike have very strong personalities, ahem, I just don’t see the two working together, that, and the new council may look at his past shananigans as a good reason to give him the boot. Trust me, if Huether decides to replace Cooper, this could be a battle, Cooper has many allies in the community. Personally, if I was Huether, he would be my first target, and I would not mess around, I would do it right away like pulling off a bandage.
The Director of Public works is also another replacement option, I’m sure his position will be looked into closely.
Obviously there are directors that will be safe, the chiefs of the PD and FD will likely not be replaced. As well as the Parks Director. While I have not always agreed with Don Kearney, I think he has been a fair director of the parks.
It should be interesting to watch. Who do you think will be fired? Who do you think will resign on their own?
So just how much did Huether pay for consulting from Hildebrand Strategies?
Nobody will know until June 17, one month after Mike is sworn into office.
Mysteriously, consulting fees have been left out of his previous financial reports, which is no surprise. It is common practice for candidates to pay consultants fees and bonuses after the election results come in, mainly because you pay for results. If I had to guess, I would bet it will be around $50,000. This of course would put Mike well over spending three times more then Kermit. Ironically he didn’t buy a Pro-Mike vote but an Anti-Staggers vote. While Mike (Hildebrand) did a fine job of showing the negative aspects of Kermit, I just feel Mike really didn’t sell the public as to why he would be so great for the community.
While I wish him the best of luck, I also know it will be a tough road for Mike. I can hear the voters already who supported him, “Okay, we knocked out Dr. No for you, what are yah gonna do for us?”