This column was published November 30, 2024 in the Manhattan Mercury.
Elections have consequences, as do car accidents.
I’m not referring to the national election through which we just persevered, but the local one a year ago which resulted in two fresh faces and a familiar one back for another term of service on the five-member Manhattan city commission.
The previous commission seemed driven by a majority hardline on property taxes, which was obliterated at roughly the same time one of the hardliners plowed his car through a Candlewood plate glass storefront. That accident also led to a third new face on the commission.
When you spend an hour on the radio with each of the five Manhattan city commissioners, as I did recently, some common themes emerge. The vehicle was ‘Within Reason,’ a new talk show on KMAN aimed at filling knowledge gaps in our community, and in so doing, creating space for more informed decision-making.
Two themes emerged from the five individual conversations, one that goes to the essence of their duties, and the other, to the core of how they fulfill that responsibility.
Each expressed concern about the existing budget process, which translates very quickly to taxes and spending. They want more information, historical trends, motivation behind decisions they have inherited. Judging from their actions this year, this new city commission wants to consider services, and how to pay for them, holistically.
Each of them also used their radio/podcast appearance to express concern about the constraints on informal discussion among the five of them, the foundation that leads to consensus.
Any two of them can get together for coffee, lunch or to share photos of their kids, but the state’s open meetings law prevents three or more of them from getting together outside the confines of an official, publicly open meeting. I get it, so do they, but it limits exactly what they need – to discuss among themselves, as a group.
Some observations, from the five, separate radio/podcast conversations, alphabetically:
Susan Adamchak spent a good chunk of her career as a research demographer. Data is her jam, and she wants more of it from all stakeholders.
John Matta can count and sees that what a year ago were three fairly predictable, often ideologically-driven votes, are down to one. That may be why he made news on Within Reason, when he said “chances are” he’ll not seek re-election next year.
Karen McCulloh, the seasoned veteran, brings experience and a sage voice, having been twice elected to the Riley County commission and three times to the Manhattan city commission, which, if nothing else, speaks to her commitment to public service, not to mention her popularity.
Jayme Minton, appointed by the other four shortly after the glass shards ceased tinkling at Candlewood, seeks structure and process. If they are purposeful about keeping the cart solidly behind the horse, she argues, the path will be easier to follow.
Peter Oppelt, elected to a two-year term last year, takes the non-partisan aspect of his work seriously. Like Minton, he brings new generational leadership and yearns for deeper conversations among his commission colleagues.
These next few months, before the next round of city commission elections (the filing deadline is in six short months) provide an opportunity to check these boxes. The city commission and their lone employee – the city manager – build the agenda for city commission meetings. If they want to carve out ‘discussion amongst ourselves’ time in a public meeting, they can do it.
A little more than a month into the gig, Danielle Dulin is scanning the horizon, getting the lay of the land and building relationships. She brings a fresh, next gen perspective to this business of city managing.
The stars are aligning for a deeper, more thoughtful city governance.
Mike Matson’s column appears every other weekend in The Mercury, and he hosts ‘Within Reason,’ weekdays at 9 a.m. on NewsRadio KMAN. Follow his writings at mikematson.com
コメント