It's been a day now since Doug Russell submitted his resignation as City Manager to our City Commission. He resigned after only a year and a half in Arkansas City.
I'm a bit puzzled about Russell's resignation, after only being in Arkansas City a year and a half. Not that I expected him to remain here forever, but maybe long enough to beef up his resume with achievements -- maybe three to five years.
In his early days in his position here, Doug talked enthusiastically about wanting to bring people of the community together to accomplish things. Communication would be his tool.
Remember when he first took the job how everyone seemed to praise his qualifications and express high hopes about what he might accomplish here?
He looked good at the start of his tenure. With the city commission's blessing, he had a city-wide survey conducted to determine what the community wanted: economic growth, infrastructure improvements, and better quality of life.
It seemed we might be coming up with a vision for a better future, but then things started to change.
What happened? Could it be that since Doug came here we've lost the forest for the trees? Are we so entangled in details and petty disagreements that we've lost sight of the bigger picture?
Doug is too professional to talk about his reasons for leaving, and I'm not sure I want to speculate. But I know a lot of people are speculating and talking about his depature.
Just seems to me we lost a valuable, talented person. And the city commission -- Doug's boss -- even admits that.
Where do we go from here?
At work
About Me
- Foss Farrar
- I returned to my hometown of Arkansas City, Kan., in December 2001 and have worked as a reporter on The Traveler, the town's local daily newspaper, since then. An Ark City native who grew up and went to school here in the 1950s and 1960s, I started this blog as a free-flowing past, present and future look at Arkansas City.
3 comments:
I also had high hopes for our new city manager. Now, there's just talk of reevaluating the city manager position; but no discussion of following up on the vision statements that were initiated when he first arrived. Are new windows in the downtown area all we get?
Hello! I have heard that you are the person to talk to about transportation issues in Cowley County. I was excited the other day to read your article about the shuttle bus company starting up. However I am worried for its future. Are there other examples of local transportation services that are entirely private businesses? Since it is a service that tends to cater to people without much money, it is not exactly lucrative. In the next few days I will try and write about this on my blog and maybe make some requests/recommendations. Connect the Lines started out as a pro-Amtrak blog but I would like to broaden the scope and start talking about transportation solutions generally in the context of an emerging energy crisis.
I don't know what your schedule is like but if you have some time you are welcome to join this project. If we are not entirely of the same opinion I can mention that each article represents the views of the writer, and not necessarily the entire group....
We have lost a valuable talent in Doug Russell however as Grandma ws fond of saying it's water under the bridge now. Our new City Manger is more than capable but will he receive the leadership and support from the commission that he deserves? There was a lot of talk about vision and strategic planning when Doug arrived. Where is that talk now. Arkansas City is at a cross roads and there is a decision to be made. Join the rest of the County and pursue a progressive agenda for workforce development and support of local businesses as a foundation for real growth. Annexation is not growth. It is time for something real and does the current commission have the intestinal fortitude to stand up and say status quo is not good enough. The School system has moved into the 21st century and Steve Archer is as talented as Ron Ballard but will our commission stand up and support a strategic vision that will allow Steve Archer to lead us into the future. I don't know.
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