Have I got a suggestion for the Wichita City Council as they revive their search for a new city manager: Gene Stephenson. If anyone knows about the perils of cold feet, it’s Gene.
Carl Brewer, my number’s at the bottom of two stories on today’s business page. Or maybe there’s a reason I’m not on the city manager search committee …
Anyway, heard a brief discussion on the radio this morning that interested me. A caller was irate over the city’s willingness to loan Bill Warren money while at the same time being unwilling to give several million dollars to the proposed Broadview Hotel deal.
It’s criticism that seems to keep popping up. Still not sure I understand the logic behind it, with gifts and loans being different animals.
So explain it to me. If you’ve got an opinion, why was the proposed Broadview handout a better deal than the Old Town Warren loan?
9 Comments
They are 2 entirely different situations. As it was explained to me last evening, the “mistake” with the Warren deal is that when the tax increment financing (tif) was set up roughly 10 years ago the Warren was counted as a whopping 75% of the base. There were other options to the city but none as favorable as the low interest loans. It ensures that the Warren continues paying all of those taxes for the district plus pays back the recent loans approved by the city. I did take some comfort in finding out the recent loans are personally guaranteed.
Obviously, the City is not in that kind of predicament with the Broadview. It is a stand alone situation and should rise or fall on its own merits.
At the end of the day I would personally prefer less government interaction with businesses.
Wichita has a shortage of downtown hotel rooms. We have a surplus of theater seats and overpriced bars.
bth: I’ll add to your list … Wichita also has a city manager, school superintendent and so-called downtown development executive SHORTAGE.
I disagree jwink. I still think they should try to talk Flentje into staying on permanently. Similarly with the other positions – they can be filled locally.
In the case of the city manager, do not concur.
The long term answer, of course, is to put in strong mayor after the 2011 elections… after we get rid of the current weak mayor, of course.
Mr. Controversy: How do you propose to structure a “strong mayor” position in Wichita. For example, would there still be a city manager and, if so, would he report to the city council or to the mayor?
Of course, a fellow like Pat Salerno would not agree to report to one person, the strong mayor, because his job could be more tenuous than with a seven member city council.
What about the county government? Wouldn’t your change be a good time to consolidate many overlapping city/county offices? I believe some form of this has been put in place in Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County. I am curious how this is organized.
A fellow from Wichita, formerly a spokesman for Wichita, left here a few years ago to take a similar position with the KCK/Wyandotte County unified government. Perhaps he has some ideas on this. Sorry I can’t think of his name right now.
bth: Although I have never met Mr. Flentje, he appears to be his own man and a professional city manager type. I agree. I hope the city council attempts to keep him on to settle the dust from this failed Salerno deal and to learn from the mistakes that were made.
Learning from mistakes? Too much to ask from this council, JWink.
I don’t mean any disrespect, but those of you supporting keeping Flentje in the office obviously have not tried to work with him. He needs to leave immediately — and go back to teaching or whatever. He has not been a good city manager — we simply need to move quickly to find a competent professional to take the job.