One thing I neglected to compliment you on, that this article got publish so quickly after the meeting ended, what was it, 2 hours?
Considering the depth of research on city administration salaries, the links and how polished it was, that's just amazing. You even scooped Corey Murry, a professional journalist. I'm told a article likes this, with the writing, proofing and research, would have taken at least 4-6 hours, and that's not even considering how you took time off work in the middle of the workday to do it.
Amazing. It's almost as if you had most of the story already written ahead of time.
So, you didn't see an issue with you attending this meeting, and chiming in with clarifications at all?
I mean, it's not illegal, but it's highly untoward and perhaps unethical, being it's your compensation being discussed? And that it might constrain those talking, being your were the only member of "the public" in attendance?
And then your reporting on this, seems pretty self serving and leaving key facts out.
Like the group hadn't done any salary survey's at all, and where going to check Coldwater and Marshall and table any votes until the next meeting. Yet didn't do that and voted anyways? FYI, it took me 60 seconds to find that out, $500 a year each.
Or that you were comparing apples to oranges in your article and have full knowledge that Hillsdale is a council/manger form of goverment... just like Coldwater/Marshall. With the kind of money they wanted to raise things to, you need to be talking a strong mayor form of goverment... which none of them were.
Jacob, I like your votes and input on council, but this really is a low point for you. $10K is chump change for someone of your education, and regardless, it will make Hillsdale one of the, if not the, highest paid council/manager form of goverment in the state.
And I didn't even touch on the optics. If you aren't doing this for the love of community or giving back, you shouldn't be doing it at all.
Respectfully,
Jeff King
P.S.
Here is the raw video of the meeting for anyone wanting an unfiltered view.
What this exposed is how poorly we pay our public servants at the tip of the spear (clerk, LEO, Teachers) and how much we pay those who push the paper... I'd politely call it unsustainable, and the real sickness effecting most likely killing the country. Top heavy, ineffective leadership that has lost its "heil" (leadership spirit, favor of the gods) and must be burnt in the wickerman this coming solstice before it completely hallows out the granary. Starting pay for a Hillsdale City LEO is $22/hour plus what I assume are not great benefits.... Teachers..... they are start at $28,000/ year....... Its no wonder our communities are falling apart. How many city managers/supers does it take to make an arrest and keep the community safe? How many to teach the future its future?..... I could see it if the airport was profit neutral, no sad, low mills.... I could see it if the buildings were not GHETTO and the test scores better than 179ish of 289ish.... But it is what it is and yet these persons get compensated wildly more than those who actually make the community work.... Kinda NUTZ.....
One thing I neglected to compliment you on, that this article got publish so quickly after the meeting ended, what was it, 2 hours?
Considering the depth of research on city administration salaries, the links and how polished it was, that's just amazing. You even scooped Corey Murry, a professional journalist. I'm told a article likes this, with the writing, proofing and research, would have taken at least 4-6 hours, and that's not even considering how you took time off work in the middle of the workday to do it.
Amazing. It's almost as if you had most of the story already written ahead of time.
So, you didn't see an issue with you attending this meeting, and chiming in with clarifications at all?
I mean, it's not illegal, but it's highly untoward and perhaps unethical, being it's your compensation being discussed? And that it might constrain those talking, being your were the only member of "the public" in attendance?
And then your reporting on this, seems pretty self serving and leaving key facts out.
Like the group hadn't done any salary survey's at all, and where going to check Coldwater and Marshall and table any votes until the next meeting. Yet didn't do that and voted anyways? FYI, it took me 60 seconds to find that out, $500 a year each.
Or that you were comparing apples to oranges in your article and have full knowledge that Hillsdale is a council/manger form of goverment... just like Coldwater/Marshall. With the kind of money they wanted to raise things to, you need to be talking a strong mayor form of goverment... which none of them were.
Jacob, I like your votes and input on council, but this really is a low point for you. $10K is chump change for someone of your education, and regardless, it will make Hillsdale one of the, if not the, highest paid council/manager form of goverment in the state.
And I didn't even touch on the optics. If you aren't doing this for the love of community or giving back, you shouldn't be doing it at all.
Respectfully,
Jeff King
P.S.
Here is the raw video of the meeting for anyone wanting an unfiltered view.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxQ5eOH9Kp8
What this exposed is how poorly we pay our public servants at the tip of the spear (clerk, LEO, Teachers) and how much we pay those who push the paper... I'd politely call it unsustainable, and the real sickness effecting most likely killing the country. Top heavy, ineffective leadership that has lost its "heil" (leadership spirit, favor of the gods) and must be burnt in the wickerman this coming solstice before it completely hallows out the granary. Starting pay for a Hillsdale City LEO is $22/hour plus what I assume are not great benefits.... Teachers..... they are start at $28,000/ year....... Its no wonder our communities are falling apart. How many city managers/supers does it take to make an arrest and keep the community safe? How many to teach the future its future?..... I could see it if the airport was profit neutral, no sad, low mills.... I could see it if the buildings were not GHETTO and the test scores better than 179ish of 289ish.... But it is what it is and yet these persons get compensated wildly more than those who actually make the community work.... Kinda NUTZ.....