The Norfolk Daily News is reporting this morning that Northfield City Administrator Al Roder has been selected as Norfolk’s next City Administrator.
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Northfield City Administrator Al Roder selected to be City Administrator of Norfolk, Nebraska17 comments to Northfield City Administrator Al Roder selected to be City Administrator of Norfolk, Nebraska |
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Copyright © 2012 Locally Grown Northfield - All Rights Reserved 
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The Nfld News has posted a story.
I think hiring an interim city administrator would be a good move for the Council, so that the new Council elected in Nov. could make the permanent pick.
Why not hire Public Services Director Joel Walinski as interim city admin?
Joel is a good guy, but how much work is it fair to ask one person to do?
With admin added to his workload, everyone in the whole hierarchy would be reporting to him.
Why not try very hard to recruit Bill Bassett, the last interim administrator; Things seemed to go so smoothly under him?
Griff -
I think hiring an interim city administrator is not only a good idea, it may be the only realistic option. I’m a huge fan of Joe Walinski, but if he were to drop all the balls that he’s currently juggling, I think Northfield would be in big trouble.
Perhaps he’s a potential candidate for the permanent position.
Our previous interim city administrator, Bill Bassett, seemed to be a stabilizing force down at city hall. Personally, I always found him to be straight-taking and above-board. He already knows the city too.
- Ross
I agree -- Walinski does a great job as Public Works Director, but the city is already short staff, and it would be a false economy to ask him to serve as interim. I hope the council will find someone who can serve for at least 6 or 8 months to give the NEW council time to have a thoughtful discussion about what they’re looking for and then do a careful search. It will take the new council a while to get used to each other (!!) which also argues for not rushing the search/hiring.
I would agree that Joel rocks… If we could clone and hire about 6 of him, Northfield would be a better place. However, the man must sleep sometime.
Personally, I am so looking forward to the upcoming election, so that we can get some fresh leadership, and move this community forward. I truly believe that if you are an incumbent, it is going to be a difficult campaign.
The Nfld News has Roder’s resignation letter to the Council posted:
http://www.northfieldnews.com/photos/File468.pdf
Curt, thanks for the link to the Strib story on Roder but the harsh and insulting phrase you slipped into your comment was over the top so I’ve moderated it. I’ll contact you via email about it.
The Goodhue investigation of Roder et al ‘may’ be completed within a month, according to the Strib story:
AARRGGHH, the Nfld News has once again updated a web version of a story without any notation. Their story on Roder is still dated Friday at 8:30am but it’s been updated significantly
http://northfieldnews.com/news.php?viewStory=23026
Griff,
Quick suggestion, could your links to external stories like the Strib one above open in a new browser tab or window? My personal preference is to read external references and close the window to find the original page back in front of me. Just a suggestion…
Griff, I’m OK with being moderated, my phrase describing overzealous citizens’ actions towards the city administrator and elected officials like Dennsion was harsh.
But, may I suggest a new thread to discuss the issues that came out in Roder’s letter and Dennison’s remarks in the News? Roder mentions frivolous lawsuits, micromanaging and innuendo. Dennison mentions stalking and death threats. Who in their right mind, would want to be an elected official or administrator in a town where overwrought zealotry is accepted? If “overwrought zealotry” is too harsh, what terms are acceptable for people who are stalkers and issue death threats?
(LoGroNo tech hat on)
David,
Thanks for your request about external links opening in a new window. I’d like to explain why we don’t do this.
When links do open new windows by default, the reader has no choice. They have to use the new window. When you just have links function as normal, though, readers can either open it a new window, a new tab, or just let it take the current space.
If you would like to open in a new window when you click a link, just right-click and then select “Open Link in New Window” (the wording may vary slightly).
Thanks, Sean. My favorite right-click option, “open link in new tab” which works for both Firefox and Internet Explorer 7 browsers.
Thanks! I learned something new.
My thanks to Mr. Roder for his hard work during difficult times. Also, my symathies for the difficult situations and outright hostility that he has encountered during his tenure in Northfield.
From the Northfield News:
This is the thing that I am most concerned about, as well. I hope we can find a good interrim Administrator who can stick around for a while. I can’t imagine anyone who is well-qualified wanting to take this job any time soon.
Griff. I assume that the City Administrator position has a written ‘job description’ and a written ‘terms and conditions of employment’. Any chance of blogging that and comparing and contrasting with the Charter?
On the one hand I can see the merit in waiting until early 2009 for the new, full council to pick the new administrator; ie appoint someone interim. Yet, its just a job, professional and salaried, with all the usual, non-mysterious, prescribed, outlined, formal…and in MN ‘at will’ (?) rider plus the usual ‘and anything else the mayor and council ask you to do’…?
I think part of the problem is elevating the job to undeserved heights, akin to that of our elected representatives.
…but whatever you do, be very wary of accepting or appointing the recommendation of someone who is leaving -- even when the leaving is such sweet sorrow -- and not at all if there is even the suggestions of a cloud.