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Turner said he applied for the city manager position in Atchison about a month ago. Turner worked in Atchison before coming to Fort Scott in April 2008. He then withdrew his name for consideration for the Atchison position last week.
"I withdrew my name because I am happy where I'm at," Turner said.
Turner was the financial director in Atchison in 1985 and later became city manager in 1990 where he served for 14 years. Before coming to Fort Scott, he moved on to serve as city administrator in Parkville, Mo.
Turner said the reason he applied was because it was closer to his family.
"I'm happy where I am, it was never serious," Turner said.
Comments
Great, one more person from outside of town taking a local job....
Yeah, I fill out job applications everyday, and then turn them down because its never serious.
What ever happened to investigative reporters?
I can understand the desire to be closer to family. That's only natural, also, it can't be very fun being here with a future of serious budget shortfalls,declining sales tax revenues,declining population,rising unemployment, deteriorating infrastructure, and now pressure from special interest groups to revisit huge tax increases to fund their projects when a huge tax increase will probably have to be proposed just to keep ongoing operations afloat.
I heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who said he gets free passes to the indoor/outdoor aquatics center once they push it thru the good old boy fashioned way. That is if he will continue to stay and do their dirty work for them.
Or was it he wasn't going to get the job he wanted for with the package he was asking for?
I can't remember.
My_2_Cents, LOL
Those evil "special interest" groups you speak of appear to have run roughshod over my new residence of Frontenac/Pittsburg - my daughter actually has places we can take her to play that were actually built AFTER the Eisenhower administration. Where do these people get off, anyhow!?!?!?! You guys better not let them do the same to Fort Scott, as the kids there might get the idea they are actually of some importance to the community!
well if we had the economy the pitt area has things might be different Nick.
you are comparing apples to oranges.......again.
Hey nick
Can't help but wonder? Is Turner spending more money then Richard did? Kinda seems that way. Know that you have been out for a while but thought I would ask.
Yes, definitely. But there are upsides and downsides to that. Most people have a justifiable problem with the streets in Fort Scott, and the general cleanliness. Previous city hall philosophy was to pinch every penny, hence the streets and codes deteriorated over time due to lack of proper funding. Now comes the pain of catching up for over a decade of neglect, which is not cheap. The upside is that with the street program initiated last year still being funded in 2010, I'd say in 2011 Fort Scott streets overall will start to overall look a lot better, 2012 especially, so long as the new street program continues to be funded every year.
Plus, with contractors now doing the work, jobs will be started and done quickly, as we won't have a bunch of half completed projects all around from spreading city crews too thin and in too many directions.
To get the glaring problems fixed is going to take significant spending. Where I have differences with the recently passed budget is where cuts could have been made to avoid cuts elsewhere, but I'm not gonna armchair quarterback, as I hated that when I was in their shoes.
Dan, you mean the Pittsburg economy where 600 people lost their jobs in one fell swoop last December when one of the biggest employers closed up? The Pittsburg economy that has a slightly lower median income than the Fort Scott one? The economy where my own employer has had to lay off several? Surely not just the influx of college kids every fall is what makes the difference. I'd like to think people here actually give a darn about generations coming after them, and then ACT on that care, and that makes a significant difference.
OH Nick, cmon. I'm dissappointed in your response.
Do you expect ANYONE to believe the Pittsburg area has always been in the doldrums they(like FS,and the rest of America) are in now?
Is that your best answer in comparing Pittsburgs economy to ours??? GEEZ.
I am dismayed by the use of blantaly negative phrases such as special interest groups to denote people who want to provide outlets and activities for kids? Do you have anything positive to contribute to the citizenry of Fort Scott? Did you help with the Neighborhood Blitz, sort toys for the Beacon Christmas Drive, volunteer for a team to raise money for the United Way? Do you coach a youth sport team? How about Big Brothers Big Sisters? Career day at the middle school? What is it that you do, besides read the Tribune and make comments about other people's efforts to improve (at least in their special interest opinion) the quality of life for the people of Fort Scott? Do you think Pittsburg is where it is today because people jumped up and shouted "NO WAY" or rolled up their sleeves and said, "Let's make this happen"? What is the chicken and what is the egg here? One last thing, if you have the conviction to say it, sign your name to it.
What about comparing our economy to Independence (new aquatic center), Chanute (new high school and football stadium), Nevada (new aquatic center), Paola (just about everything is new). Those that think they can't are correct.
Calm down Craig, there are reasons for everything. It's not all as simple as you think. I hope you respond so that perhaps we can have a civil discussion.
Nick,
It seems as if these improvements are possibly being made at the expense of city employees and other city related things.
I heard from a friend who works for the city that all part time employees have been layed off. A hiring freeze is in effect to include positions with in the public safety departments that need filled. Also several other things.
Oh MY!! ...here we go again ..tom and danny dissing a new pool proposal once more. Would anyone be surprised to know one of them doesn't even LIVE here???? And neither have young children, only older ones that have mostly moved away (not enough to do maybe?)
Special Interest Groups????...That is so very hilarious.(I think someone is watching too many politicians on TV)..and so very lame...You would think this is a National Health insurance issue instead of a local pool proposal..Special Interest Groups????...You mean BIG ones such as the insurance companies fighting a public insurance plan??...What group would that be???
..I went to the Doctor recently...He said the perfect exercise for my bad knees would be swimming...It is in fact the best all round excercise for Seniors and not just a benefit for children
..Of course, getting that kind of health benefit would require a year round indoor pool in a community that cares about all of its citizens, the elderly, as well as the young, and everyone in between.
Guess my Doctor must be in that "Special Interest" group..so hilarious!! and WAY over the top!!!.
Most people I know want something more healthy and constuctive to do in their spare time than obsessing about stopping improvements in a community that one of them doesn't even live in!!! Maybe something such as ...swimming..??
Barb,
I said nothing negative about the pool. This actually wouldn't be the place to do that anyway, it is not what the above article is about.
Barb,
BTW, I did respond under the other article about the pool committee work session.
Thom,
I re-read my posts and I believe them to be civil. That was my intent. Otherwise, the message gets lost and the post is of no value. Not sure that what I put forth should be construed as simple. It will take a massive amount of effort to pull Fort Scott back to where it was during the years I grew up here. Things like YAT, Neighboohood Blitz, strong codes enforcement, etc are a good start. Again, complaining and posting about what is wrong with Fort Scott is really easy. Fixing the problems will require real time and effort.
I am ready to dialogue with those that say no but in turn have ways to say yes. I have never been naive enough to think I have all the answers. Give alternatives. Now on to the discussion. BTW, I have always appreciated you stepping up and signing your name to your convictions.
Craig, this is Dan Doherty here aka Like2b_onree.
Boy, you sure sound ****** off to me!
Since when did the term "special interest groups" become a "blatantly negative phrase"? I'll tell you, it was when Nick Graham interjected the word "evil" in front of it in his reply, in effect successfully goading you into jumping the gun and losing your temper, which is obvious to ANYONE who can read.
You ask what is it I do, THEN PROUDLY PROCLAIM YOUR SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS by stating all the things you participate in. How does self-righteousness fit in with your Christian beliefs Craig?
But ok, I'll briefly answer your self-righteous inquisitional type question;
Here's one thing I do, challenge groups that present unrealistic and unachievable numbers, propose new tax burdens that won't pay for their projects anyway with questions that are pertinent for the voting public(the majority), so they may make decisions based upon facts.
I also just "fyi" help by contributing money to my charities, my church, and do other things that are really NO BUSINESS OF YOURS!!!
By the way,
In case you haven't been outside or read the paper lately, look around you. Do you see prosperity and extra money laying around everywhere? Did you notice that in yesterdays paper that the unemployment rate is now at a 26 year high? Did you notice that the city is running in a deficit, and so is the state of Kansas?
Craig, you said," complaining and posting about what is wrong with Fort Scott is really easy." I say, it is not, because I then become the target of personal attacks from people like you, who use self righteousness as their defense instead of having real meaningful dialogue. Personal attack? Yes that is what you did, check with the debate teacher and learn what a personal attack is, because that is what you did to me; Ad Hominem Abusive A personal attack is committed when a person substitutes abusive remarks for evidence when attacking another person's claim or claims. This line of "reasoning" is fallacious because the attack is directed at the person making the claim and not the claim itself.
If you or anyone else can find a way to fund a pool, and keep our city afloat at this time, without raising taxes to the moon, GO FOR IT!!!!
Dan,
No where did I use your name. No where did I interject religion. I argue the point that the use of special interest groups is not intended to be negative. Goals are only unreasonable or unobtainable when all ways to get them done are not explored. We are very much in an economic downturn. We all feel it. But we will come out of it some day. We need to be positioned for that new day. Many things that need to be fixed have very long time frames. To begin to talk today, we can make these things happen when we get to the better times.
Dan, I appologize right now if you felt personally attacked. As stated earlier, I do not want to distract from the real issues. I'll let the comment about me being self righteous stand because you put it in capital letters and thus made it irrefutable.
Thom, tell Dan to calm down.
LOL, the posts are 3 times longer than the original article. Gotta go help clean the house.
TTFN
Ok, apology accepted. I apologize for anything I wrote that you feel was a personal attack on you.
Real issues. That's fine. My "real issue" and very reason for responding to this news article was in my first post, and that was pointing out and giving recognition to the very HEAVY load Mr Turner has on his back right now, and my support and understanding for any efforts on his part to be closer to family. That really was all there was to it.
It was out of my first post that Nick Graham cherry picked a comment out of it, decided to make that single item(his pet project) a bone of contention, and then going on to goad others to respond to his childish comments. My mistake,like yours, was reacting to his goading.
Well Joe, I for one am happy you changed your mind to stay. Although we have never met, I can see you are a good person and good for Fort Scott.
So many good people seem to be more interested in money than on becomeing and helping to improve our community.
Thank you for choosing to remain and become a member of our community.
Joe Turner,
I'm sorry for my above post. I was just kidding around. I slapped my hand and will think more before putting anything on here again.
I am curious. What are you looking for in a City Manager?
People nit-picked the previous city manager, and seem to be doing to same with the current one.
So I ask, what are you looking for in a city manager? What good qualities?
Can you even identify two positive characteristics of the present and past city managers? I, along with numerous others, would be very interested in hearing these, especially from you, Nick, and Thom.
to noshoesnoservice: can you be more specific about the shady things going on in this town? are you able to name names and instances of unsavory acts? i read a lot of posts about corruption in city hall. we are just kinda short on specifics.
I find it slightly amusing that there was a significant population that felt that the previous city manager was corrupting city hall, yet there is corruption with the new city manager?
No one else finds this slightly amusing? Most people thought that the problem would be fixed with the removal of the prior city manager. However, it seems to be that the town has more shady actions than the city manager positions themselves.