It is unfortunate that the Minonk City Council let Mr. Cotter get away. My sources tell me that he did an excellent job. Few people know that his actions might have saved the city over $300,00 plus 6 years interest when he convinced the people in Springfield that the money for developing the Carolyn Development was a grant and not a loan.

While no one is saying why Mr. Cotter is leaving, I think there are a couple of reasons that seem apparent. It is no secret that there has been problems in managing some of the city employees. Mr. Cotter was given the responsibility but not the authority he needed to control the operations of the city. That is a recipe for a quick departure from any job.

Secondly, it seems plausible that Mr. Cotter's forthright, no nonsense manner did not sit well with some people. Well, he is supposed to be the boss. What did we expect, Mr. Rogers(Won't you be my friend)? From my experience in the business world I learned that the manager who gets things done and runs a smooth operation is one who is firm, but fair. He commands respect and expects discipline and results from his employees. Why should it be any different if you run a city that serves 2000 people?

Make no mistake about it. Mr. Cotter's leaving is a serious blow to the city. All the projects facing the city will come to a screeching halt until his replacement can be found. It couldn't have come at a worst time for the Caroline Development. The development is struggling to get to the next level of expansion and now we don't have anyone to keep it going. In addition, the city water and sewage problems are getting worse as time goes on. Mr. Cotter's departure leaves that in limbo as well.

But now we have a new city council and, hopefully, lessons have been learned. The city council needs to clearly define the responsiblities of the city admininstrator's position. Then they need to support him. I hope that the council is fortunate enough to find a new city administrator who has the same dedication and capabilities as Mr. Cotter. Minonk is simply not going to grow without an effective city administrator.

I wish Mr. Cotter well in his future endeavors and hope that he finds a proper work environment.

Hiring a new superintendent

The hiring of a replacement for Dr. Capasso deserves careful consideration. The position of superintendent of schools is probably the most important position in the community. A community is defined by the quality of its school system. Because of that importance we feel that the new superintendent should be an active member of the community.

A permanent residence in the community, preferably as a taxpayer, will go a long way in enhancing the position of the superintendent in the community. A school administrator should become involved in the community's affairs beyond attending school functions. Being a member of a local church or a local club will enable the new superintendent to feel the pulse of the community and to be able to interact more effectively with members of the community. We hope the school board strives to find a person who will fit this profile.