The Joplin City Council unanimously accepted the resignation of City Manager Sam Anselm during the closed session of the Special Council Meeting held March 11, 2019. Mayor Gary Shaw reassures the citizens that the City is moving forward, and work will continue as usual.
“We would like to thank Sam for his leadership over the last eight years and recognize his efforts in leading the City of Joplin in its recovery effort since the 2011 tornado. Joplin has been recognized across the nation because of its excellent recovery and how it has rebuilt, and Sam has helped lead us through this recovery each step of the way. We wish Sam and his family the very best in their next chapter.”
The City Council appointed Dan Pekarek, Director of the City’s Health Department, to serve as Interim City Manager during this time. Pekarek holds 33 years of service with the City. He serves as chairman of several health-related boards in the community, including Jasper and Newton Counties Community Health Collaborative and Jasper and Newton Counties Emergency Healthcare Coalition. He also is a member of the One Joplin Steering team and One Joplin Health Team.
The City Council will discuss its next steps to hire a new City Manager in an upcoming meeting.
10 comments:
Usually when you resign you don't get a severance package. It sounds like the city council wanted to go another direction and let Sam resign instead of firing him. I wish him luck in his next job.
I originally had high hopes for a new beginning for the City when Sam stepped into the position following the disastrous tenure of Rohr, but quickly discovered that Sam played both sides of the fence and struggled with being open and honest in his dealings with others in the community. Albeit that, I wish Sam and his family the best. As for Joplin, the next City Manager needs to be someone who truly cares more about the average citizens who make up the greatest majority of the community and not the special interests of the few who belong to the Elitist Club.
At least they didn’t have to fire him like Mark Rohr, and be damned to hell by him. If any of the nitwits on the council want to bring Rohr back, then the entire city will be damned to hell. I would hope the council breaks their proclivity to hire liars without scruples.
Why the Severance Package? If I reign tomorrow I don't get paid any more and I don't get Medical paid for an extended amount of time.
Why the Severance Package? If I reign tomorrow I don't get paid any more and I don't get Medical paid for an extended amount of time.
Is this the next step to bringing professional baseball back to Joplin?
Sounds like there were several issues; lack of transparency, lack of communication with council and departments, failed baseball deal, problems with fire/police relations, etc.. Whie some of these are certainly leadership issues, one can only wonder where the nine members of the Council were. The City Mgr is directed by the Council. How many of these issues were the fault of the Council in misdirecting the City Manager? The Council is still dominated by the "old guard" and the special interests they represent. If you want positive change, then positively change out these council members.
There will never be a ball team in Joplin, that was a failed event and laughable.
The city council gave him severance to get rid of him either because he knows too much ir is standing in their way.
There are decades of corruption in this city that they are trying to keep hidden.
Keep electing your past mayors to the council and it will continue.
Look at the banks accounts of these people who have made a fortune off the under the table deals.
How many own large amounts of real estate in the city? How did they profit from the grants given from the tornado?
Time to clean house-City officials and Council members.
Good one, 5:01!
Interesting that he did not leave for a new job, at least, the release did not mention that.
Don't overlook the involvement of the Chamber in some of the missteps over the last 5 to 10 years. The Chamber's influence over the City leadership has and will continue to be an obstacle for real progress for the average citizen. Only the special interests of the more privileged become th focus of the Chamber's efforts.
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