Shenandoah City Administrator Bo Harris is in the spotlight concerning his proposed contract with the City of Shenandoah, Iowa. Many are cautious of this news invoking distrust and also envy. Either way you look at it, there will always be people who disapprove of a vote or a way you and/or the City Council handle a decision. Such is the case at this time with a decision the Shenandoah City Council has made in regards to a formal contract for our current City Administrator. The Council voted at this last meeting dated October 9th, a 4-1 in favor of the content of the contract. The Mayor of Shenandoah has rightfully vetoed the resolution which, in turn, will bring the discussion up at least once more. Let me briefly explain my own reasoning for voting in favor of the contract and why, as of yet, my vote shall remain the same.
First, let me address the main concerns that Shenandoah taxpayers have voiced:
It is true that if terminated without cause this would put a marginal burden upon the taxpayers of the City of Shenandoah. Yet, to my understanding this contract is fair given his tenure of service (in excess of fifteen years) and the immense benefit he has been to community improvements. Cities across the state of Iowa are looking at their hired staff, putting in place contracts like this with the assistance of attorneys. Keep in mind that the severance package only takes affect when and if the City Administrator is terminated without cause. It is my duty as an elected official to safeguard the taxes of the citizens of Shenandoah, but it is also my duty to safeguard the integrity of the people by ensuring fairness and acknowledging credit where credit is due.
I view it in a different scenario. If a doctor, who obviously earns five or six times my annual income, comes into question, I’m going to be rather envious of his earnings to. That’s natural and human. If I let that turn into jealousy I may suggest that the compensation is too high and that he has no right to it. However, did he not take the initiative and gain the college education to earn such credit? Shouldn’t his tenure of service reflect his compensation? Given the importance of his work and track record should he not receive some type of severance package? The answer is yes to all of this because we know it’s fair, and we know that if we were to obtain knowledge for a desired work we would also want to be rewarded for the efforts we put into it. If we let our minds go into a frenzy over a high-valued average salary or severance package without acknowledging the work put into it, then we might as well adopt the socialist ideal of redistribution of wealth.
Especially in government you will always have enemies. In fact, in my experience in leadership if you don’t gain enemies then you are not functioning adequately in your post. Having people for and against you shows that you are active and tending to the needs of your work the best you can. Every person in government is and will be scrutinized. The media, by design, will magnify every action into something mysterious causing distrust and anger. In this process allies and enemies are born. Bo Harris, like all other officials, have gained his share of both. Concentrating on the minute instances is unhealthy. The worth of an individual must be taken into account by assessing the overall job performance and accrued value added to the city through his efforts.
The City Administrator of Shenandoah, Iowa, has been hugely instrumental in obtaining many grants which have helped improve and beautify the city. The City of Shenandoah averages $2 million a year in grants which saves a vast amount of taxpayer dollars. He spends many hours a week above and beyond the normal full-time hours at the will and need of the City and the Council. Given his position he also takes his work home and pursues city business there. Throw in there the fact that he undoubtedly often gets unsavory phone calls from disgruntled taxpayers. Let’s not forget that as a City Administrator he is in charge of the inner workings of the city departments including the Street Department, Cemetery Department, Water Department and so on. Which brings me to one last thing. With this new water plant project our City Administrator has been formally named the spokesman for it which means he is involved with many aspects of the execution of this plan. Yes, that’s part of the duty and privilege of serving as the City Administrator but to me that’s added value.
It is my assessment that the City Administrator of Shenandoah, Iowa, does a very good job overall and has earned every bit of what’s in the contract.
First, let me address the main concerns that Shenandoah taxpayers have voiced:
- The contract states a three year contract of just over $93,000 in annual compensation. It is true that for this rural area of southwest Iowa that is a substantial amount to comprehend for most. It has been stated that the amount exceeds that of neighboring cities. This may be true, however, we must take a broader consideration of this number. This is an average compensation for City Administrators for cities ranging from 5,000-9,000 in population in the state of Iowa. There are jobs not in city government but rather in the school system and other areas where the salary bar is higher than this.
- The contract states that if removed without cause from the post a severance package would be in place. This would include a year’s pay equal to that of his normal annual compensation plus health coverage and any accrued time off. Again, for the vast majority of jobs in southwest Iowa this may sound unheard of and unfair. However, it really isn’t. Executive jobs more often than not have severance packages. Some exceed even this one.
It is true that if terminated without cause this would put a marginal burden upon the taxpayers of the City of Shenandoah. Yet, to my understanding this contract is fair given his tenure of service (in excess of fifteen years) and the immense benefit he has been to community improvements. Cities across the state of Iowa are looking at their hired staff, putting in place contracts like this with the assistance of attorneys. Keep in mind that the severance package only takes affect when and if the City Administrator is terminated without cause. It is my duty as an elected official to safeguard the taxes of the citizens of Shenandoah, but it is also my duty to safeguard the integrity of the people by ensuring fairness and acknowledging credit where credit is due.
I view it in a different scenario. If a doctor, who obviously earns five or six times my annual income, comes into question, I’m going to be rather envious of his earnings to. That’s natural and human. If I let that turn into jealousy I may suggest that the compensation is too high and that he has no right to it. However, did he not take the initiative and gain the college education to earn such credit? Shouldn’t his tenure of service reflect his compensation? Given the importance of his work and track record should he not receive some type of severance package? The answer is yes to all of this because we know it’s fair, and we know that if we were to obtain knowledge for a desired work we would also want to be rewarded for the efforts we put into it. If we let our minds go into a frenzy over a high-valued average salary or severance package without acknowledging the work put into it, then we might as well adopt the socialist ideal of redistribution of wealth.
Especially in government you will always have enemies. In fact, in my experience in leadership if you don’t gain enemies then you are not functioning adequately in your post. Having people for and against you shows that you are active and tending to the needs of your work the best you can. Every person in government is and will be scrutinized. The media, by design, will magnify every action into something mysterious causing distrust and anger. In this process allies and enemies are born. Bo Harris, like all other officials, have gained his share of both. Concentrating on the minute instances is unhealthy. The worth of an individual must be taken into account by assessing the overall job performance and accrued value added to the city through his efforts.
The City Administrator of Shenandoah, Iowa, has been hugely instrumental in obtaining many grants which have helped improve and beautify the city. The City of Shenandoah averages $2 million a year in grants which saves a vast amount of taxpayer dollars. He spends many hours a week above and beyond the normal full-time hours at the will and need of the City and the Council. Given his position he also takes his work home and pursues city business there. Throw in there the fact that he undoubtedly often gets unsavory phone calls from disgruntled taxpayers. Let’s not forget that as a City Administrator he is in charge of the inner workings of the city departments including the Street Department, Cemetery Department, Water Department and so on. Which brings me to one last thing. With this new water plant project our City Administrator has been formally named the spokesman for it which means he is involved with many aspects of the execution of this plan. Yes, that’s part of the duty and privilege of serving as the City Administrator but to me that’s added value.
It is my assessment that the City Administrator of Shenandoah, Iowa, does a very good job overall and has earned every bit of what’s in the contract.
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