Dear future city manager (to be sung to the tune of "Dear Future Husband")

Not all of Copperas Cove ran Ms. Gardner out on the proverbial rail. It seems some of her employees wanted to wish her well in letters at least three feet tall.

So now the city of Copperas Cove is looking for a new manager. Or, the council is, rather.

Nobody wants to put a sign on the city's front door saying "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here," because that would be a tad dramatic.

So, is the Copperas Cove city council a good boss? That depends on which way the winds of change blow. It seems like every 10 years or so there is a big shake-up of some kind in city government or operations. A little more than 10 years ago a recall election - an initiative started by one bound 'n determined woman who used her energy in a different way other than complaining online - cleared out the city council so there was no government. Things still kept going in Cove. Like they will now.

Only, a segment of the "inner circle" led by the GOBC (Good Old Boys Club) is already pushing for getting things the way "they used to be." I will hold off on making any predictions this post and try to stick to the subject of city leadership.

Dear future city manager, be prepared for a council who will tell you one direction to go, but then won't let you make the managerial decisions to run things efficiently.

It's like hiring someone to build a deck on your house because you have limited carpentry skills. But instead of letting them build the deck, you keep grabbing the hammer and adding things, or ripping out what they've already done. Good luck with that, future city manager.

But, dear future city manager, our most recent manager found herself in a perfect storm that eventually resulted in the last nail in her managerial coffin being driven home, and she knew for certain she had done all she could here.

The perfect storm, part of which she helped create, was too much change in our fair city. Nobody likes change; people would rather keep things "comfortable", like a hoarder who panics when someone tries to clean house.

Take a look at all the changes in the last three years alone, added to a council majority which began to ask questions of local groups as to why things were being done the way they were.

I give Mr. Mark Peterson credit for starting to ask questions, at least three years ago, before MOST of the current council was even on board - the only one serving at that time being Mr. Frank Seffrood, as councilman before he was mayor. Quite frankly, and I never imagined writing this, I think Mr. Peterson ought to consider running for council again.

Anyhoo - those changes I was talking about.

• Two new highways, which have been received with mixed results; 
• A proposed new median down Highway 190 that has been in the works for several years, with people howling about it before the trees are being planted (oh wait!! NO TREES!!);
• A "downtown revitalization" project on Avenue D, with issues, putting it mildly; 
• Moving the Copperas Cove EDC employees "under" the city manager - saving the EDC tens of thousands of dollars yearly; 
• The city opening its own tourism department after the chamber of commerce decided not to apply for hotel occupancy tax funds, and of course, the city laid plans to use that tourism money for its own community events (something I am not a fan of - more on that another time); 
• And the last big nail in the coffin being a $7 million debacle that was transitioning the city's utility account management to FATHOM, an out of state service. 

(Changes ALL approved by the city council ($3000 trash cans and benches, y'all.) BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THIS IS "ALL ANDREA'S FAULT.")

It was way, way too much change at once. And when your most vocal residents AND council members aren't fans? Well, kudos to Ms. Gardner for staying as long as she did.

Then you throw in a disgruntled former city councilwoman whose knickers got in a twist and she resigned because she had "problems" with the city manager. This former city councilwoman alleged on social media that Ms. Gardner was verbally abusive to at least one city employee, but these employees were "too afraid" to come forward when former city councilwoman said she would try to provide "proof". Anyhoo, for whatever reason, former city councilwoman let her own personal offense make her leave office in a huff. (Oh, I do have a point in all this -- former city councilwoman was also the former chamber of commerce director.) She then rounded up the GOBC (Manning & company) who fall for the sob stories without substance and she used her personal issues with Ms. Gardner to advance her overall cause and fuel her personal pride. Then, she backed down on the verbal abuse allegations, said she would try to be more positive and moved away.

Now, we have a council majority who has the same leanings as this former councilwoman who once publicly said in a council meeting that the property tax rate explanation was "clear as mud".

So, dear future city manager, this is the fine mess you'll be walking into. A council majority with its own "inner circle" agenda rather than listening to the citizens of this city.

Now, dear readers and future city manager, if you've made it this far, here are the city manager qualifications as listed online in the job posting of the Texas Municipal League. If you want to keep reading for the kicker, skip to the end. This time, I will refrain from making snarky comments in the midst of listed qualifications:

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

Works under the broad policy guidance of the City Council. Exercises supervision over all municipal employees either directly or through subordinate supervisors.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in public administration, political science, business management or a closely related field and;

Minimum five (5) years of experience as a municipal administrator;

Master’s degree in public administration, political science, business management or a closely related field preferred and;

Three (3) years of experience as a municipal administrator.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be bondable.

Complete the TxDOT Local Government Project Procedures Training within one (1) year of hire date and re-train every three (3) years.

Valid State Driver's License, or ability to obtain one prior to employment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of modern policies and practices of public administration;

Knowledge of municipal finance, human resources, public works, public safety, and community development;

Skill in preparing and administering municipal budgets;

Skill in planning, directing and administering municipal programs;

Skill in operating the listed tools and equipment;

Ability to prepare and analyze comprehensive reports;

Ability to carry out assigned projects to their completion;

Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, city officials and the public;

Ability to efficiently and effectively administer a municipal government.

- - -

And now, this reminds me of the old song, "If you like pina coladas", about the discouraged boyfriend who takes out an ad, looking for a new "lady", and he lists everything he's looking for. Then, funny thing, he meets up with the one who responds to his ad - his "old lady", who unknown to him, was also looking for what she wanted.

Sometimes you don't appreciate what you've got until its gone. In the case of Copperas Cove, I don't think that will happen where she is concerned.