Page 7 NEB) GRO) VE Letter to the Editor... View from the Gallery Dear Faitor: Items of interest on this month’s agenda inelude; a patching ma- chine, public input, revised city ‘ordinances, and finance officer ap- plications. Mayor Johnson has been on the internet at hall cop central again. He found a road patching machine for the bargain price of $17K includ- ing freight from New York. When asked about warranty, Mayor John- son replied, “it runs . I watched the video of them starting it”. Well, there ya go! During public input asked May- or Johnson why he failed to — an article in the Union ‘ote suppor ofthe 911 opt out He replied, "1 talked to the Akron pa pet.” Over a year ago the mayors ‘of Beresford, Elk Point, Jefferson, North Sioux and Alcester united voicing their objection to the dis- ppatch head tax levied against their cities. Mayor Johnson was elected and aside from a call introducing himself as mayor, it appears Mayor Johnson could not bother to protect and serve Alcester. Street staff reported collapse of the curb on upper Lee Drive. On June 4, 2013, I presented the coun photographs showing large ‘gaps under the curb, predicting they ‘were going to lose the curb, Mayor Johnson allowed Councilwoman JJurrens to charge ahead, directing moneys to the Beck Drive project, totally ignoring the imminent, sub- stantial loss of public moneys in- vested in Lee Drive. ‘The first reading of the revised ‘ordinances took place with draft ‘copies disseminated. Folks you reed to read the proposed ordi- rances before the second reading scheduled for the July meeting, ‘these ordinances may affect you. SE Contact Mayor Johnson oF your council-person for access to these proposed changes. Last item of the evening in- volved finance officer applications. In the May 2014 meeting, Mayor Johnson appointed Mike Kezar as city finance officer at a wage of S38K+/-up to September 1, 2014. In the past, Councilwoman Jurrens commented in open session on the health of Alcester Finance Officer Kezar. It appears Councilwoman Jurrens concem has influenced the ‘mayor to limit Finance Officer Ke- at's appointment. Advertisements for “finance officer’ appeared in the paper, but the duties listed de- scribe a city manager not a finance officer. Folks, voters must approve ‘a change to city manager. So who ‘authored the ad? Mayor Johnson called execu- tive session to discuss the finance officer applications, then he im- ‘mediately ‘declared council out of for a bathroom break; Mayor Johnson again called for executive session to discuss finance officer applications. The council came out of executive session of- fering Councilwoman Jurrens the position of Alcester Finance Offi- cer Position at a training salary of S4OK per year. WOW! Let’s see, ‘concern’ for health + participation ‘modifying appointment of current finance officer + attempt to in- ‘crease powers for ‘finance officer” by advertisement+S40K training ‘wage = something rotten in Alces- ter! ADA? The finance officer is the compliance officer. Ifmy recent Freedom of Information Request is ‘anything to go by, Councilwoman Jurren's failure to comply does not bode well for Alcester! We need to video our council ‘meetings so voters can hear the ‘entire conversation and capture all those facial expressions, right ‘Councilwoman Jurrens? Vickie A. Larsen Alcester