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Our view

By Staff | Sep 22, 1999

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

That is how we view the Tonganoxie City Council’s fledgling study of the adoption of a city manager form of government. Without study and much discussion, involving local residents as well as elected representatives and city staff, we’ll never know whether things can be improved for Tonganoxie.

The idea, initiated by Mayor John Franiuk, has advantages and disadvantages. The real question is the final result of the change – balance or imbalance? How would that final result compare with the city’s existing form of government?

Franiuk has cited the change as a logical step in the city’s growth process. It would allow paid, full-time employees to handle management of the city and staff in a professional manner. That, he believes, would leave the council, made up of elected volunteers, to establish policy to best reflect the voters who elected them.

The disadvantage would be that giving a manager more extensive power would further distance council members from daily operations of the city, perhaps diminishing their ability to represent those who elected them.

The change could also result in a more fair means of handling city staff members, who are now appointed on an annual basis and have no independent board to appeal to if they feel they are treated unfairly. Now, the people who hire them can fire them and must also hear their appeals.

There is a great deal to learn about this proposal, and it must start with study and investigation. We think it’s worth consideration.