GUEST COLUMN, Todd Stanton, Seward County Commissioner
The Seward County Administrator offered to tender her resignation during an oddly unrecorded work session of the Seward County Commission April 23. What would be the result of such a resignation? What would that do? And, what could it lead toward?
Properly selected and qualified new administrative leadership could bring long-lacking stability through the ability to identify priorities and implement intelligent strategic direction.
It should be possible to add a much needed properly qualified financial officer to Seward County administration.
New employees would no longer be joining a team in a “toxic” or chaotic culture “in a house on fire” “consumed by crisis management.” The quotes are the words of the administrator as she described her view of things in an after-hours email to the County Commissioners April 28 which has been previously released and is available online.
Competent and productive department heads would be able to flourish in an environment where fresh and innovative ideas are welcomed and encouraged.
A move toward implementation of more equitable compensation between departments and those in similar positions where merit is rewarded can be placed in motion.
That’s just a short list of what can be. Let’s unpack these few items a little from my perspective.
Overly long meetings re-hashing years-old topics for ‘strategic planning’ have been abandoned — as were the Town Halls — after the public was misled regarding where a wanted tax hike was going to be spent.
Funding for a finance position isn’t a problem as is often claimed, and those opposed to this have yet to state a cogent reason for the opposition. Such a position filled by a qualified individual will save money and serve as an additional check in budgetary matters — ask the City of Liberal! How local people can pooh-pooh an astonishing local example is a mystery.
I hear from a good number of department heads. Many are concerned about a toxic culture and do view the current administration as lurching from crisis to crisis. I have no doubt some of our terrific elected and appointed department heads can and will achieve great things if allowed to flourish.
The Seward County Commission needs to operate and function without attempts at manipulation. There’s a misconception by the administrator on “unity of command” and “the board speaks with one voice” and “we move forward as a unified entity.” The Seward County Commission is an elective body in representative government. While each commissioner does represent the county, they are expected to represent the majority views of their district. Does either the State or Federal Congress speak with one voice and move forward as a unified entity?
Hardly.
Nor do we expect that.
Why would the administrator? The Seward County Commission is an elected, representative government, and it nor the administrator command anyone. They are in place to serve the common good.
