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A tragic loss
Dear Editor,
My son, Steve, returned home Monday evening and informed me the city Manager's contract would not be effective; I was surprised. Then (I) spent a restless night trying to come up with a reason.
I failed, because the previous Thursday or Friday Councilman Longnecker stated to me there were no problems and that the City Manager would be retained.
Then there was this 4 to 1 vote to not ratify his salary, i.e., in essence to terminate his contract.
Why? I think the four dissenting City Council members need to reveal their reasons and not just quietly say "Nay."
Mr. Bingham has been here five or six years. The large water and sewer problems have been solved and the day-to-day running of the city seems to me to have run very smoothly.
I talked to Marty Conroy who also worked closely with Mr. Bingham for several years and was told that he was liked and worked easily with the heads of all departments.
When they had problems he helped solve them so that our city ordinances were followed to the letter. He ran "a tight ship" and always followed the rules, keeping the city's best interests in the forefront.
He might have ruffled a few citizens' feathers along the way but as we all know that can't be helped in all instances. The city ordinances are his rulebook and he has no choice but to follow and enforce them. Only the City Council can change them.
Why does it appear he has failed when in my opinion, I see him as being successful in keeping McCook shipshape and on the right course?
Bill Davis, in a Gazette article, stated that home construction in McCook had been denied.
This was a result of an EPA directive that put a moratorium on new sewer taps until the ammonia content in our waste waster, discharged into the Republican River was reduced. The water level in the river was so low due to the drought that we were out of compliance with the EPA rules.
Then a woman complained about the manager's salary. Mayor Berry stated in last Monday's meeting that the salary for city managers in communities our size ranged from $73,000 to $91,000 or there about.
You really can't compare our city manager's salary with the governor's because he receives many more perks than our manager, like living in a mansion, a personal driver, and several more I will not mention.
Mr. Bauer was very upset about the possibility of having to move the gun club and even made the offer to pay Mr. Bingham's severance. That was generous of the Gun Club but I was informed that the location was needed to move a business there and that the lease had expired or had not be renewed.
It seems that those attending en masse at last Monday's meeting were well-recruited and organized. I wonder by whom?
I was in south Texas for the winter and read the Gazette each week. I did notice a suggestion that the city return to a directly elected Mayor form of government. Is this movement behind the disposition of the city manager? Only time will tell.
Mr. Bingham's opposition seems to consist of people who came to be at odds with him when he would not vary from the city's ordinances or those who had to alter a situation be to in compliance. I feel sure that he did not show any preferences.
I have resided in McCook as an adult for nearly 60 years and saw the change from elected mayor to our present form of government.
There were very good reasons for our adopting the Council -- Manager form of government, and McCook is better off for it. I have also seen city managers come and go and it is my belief that John Bingham out-shines all his predecessors. It will be tragic if we do lose him.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. John L. Batty,
McCook