STURGILL
FRANK LEWIS
PDT Staff Writer
Sixth Ward Portsmouth City Councilman Steve Sturgill wants to have a re-vote on the issue of returning to the Council/City Manager form of government, set to begin in 2014.
“We voted twice during 2011 on the income tax,” Sturgill said. “The first vote lost by two. The second one passed by 22 votes. Some of us, not only at this table, say that was a mandate for the income tax. I would disagree with that. The city manager vote won by a total of 64 votes. I would like to see us re-vote on that.”
Sturgill said he does not know what the process is to get the issue on the ballot.
“Is it a resolution? Is it an ordinance? Do we have to sign petitions?” Sturgill said. “I would like to see that brought back, and let’s give that a second vote.”
Sturgill said everything he has heard over the course of the last five months is that the city can’t afford the city government it has now.
“City manager is only going to add to not only the increases in the executive office, but again, a good city manager is going to come in here and want to know where the community development director is,” Sturgill said. “It’s also going to want to know where your Engineering Department is — the department is — where is he? Where is she?”
Sturgill said he has plans for the campaign.
“I want to debate this issue this time. It was not debated the last time,” Sturgill said. “I couldn’t even drum up a good argument about it, other than with (First Ward Councilman) Mr. (Kevin) Johnson, and we had that conversation several times. Obviously, we’re on different sides of the issue. So I don’t know if you bring it forward in your conference session — tell me how it works — and I’d like to propose it.”
In 2011, voters chose to re-instate the Council/City Manager form of government, leaving Portsmouth Mayor David Malone to finish out his current term until the end of 2013, and leaving the city to begin the process of laying out a protocol for hiring a city manager, then advertising for someone to accept that position.
Johnson said Friday that Sturgill would have to get an ordinance passed or solicit signatures if he is to get the issue back on the ballot for the upcoming election.
Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.
Isnt the whole reason of getting a City Manager is to get someone who will hire an Economic Developtment Director who will then hopefully get some jobs inside the city limits, who will have an education and actually know how to run a city which the current bunch has no clue ? Someone who knows how to do something besides concern themselves with a new city building.
This city is the laugh of the entire state of Ohio. A Mayor and a council who has no clue whats going on. Why does a resident have to call the service department 9 times to get a single hole patched ? A city that cuts the trash up in the grass, which they rarely cut. Streets with no yellow lines. Maybe an educated City Manager that does not have "Scioto County Appalachian Mentality" will get some of these cities problems fixed. Its obvious Portsmouth needs someone from the outside to run its government because those who live here locally sure cant do it.
This council or mayor never ever talks about recruiting industry or business at any city council meeting. Its always a new city building, or a new tax or raising a rate.
If you are young and you want to get ahead in life remember one thing. Leave Scioto County and leave the City of Portsmouth, Ohio.
The second thing he/she will do is get some sort of economic development program going, probably hiring an economic development director. A good one will pay for himself several times over but will require some changes be made. Even a great economic development person will tell you that no company in their right mind will look at Portsmouth with the streets the way they are and a city government who should be on a comedy channel reality show.
Can you spell DEFICIT's...............Millions...
Sturgill should teach Haas how to tie a tie, and Haas wants to manage our city and run for State level politics. Me thinks, Haas thinks he's as good as the law firm he's allowed to belong too.
Maybe they are only as good as Haas?
Hmmmmmmmm..........
Sturgill wants to debate the issue this time, but he couldn't even drum up a good argument about it the last time. So now, since the income tax passed and the city now has additional revenue, Sturgill wants to waste 20 thousand dollars to vote on the city manager form of government, again.
Sturgill said he has plans for the (his) campaign.
Reading between the lines of this article it appears Sturgill may want to overtune the city manager vote so he can run for mayor in 2013.
"A good city manager is going to come in here and want to know where the community development director is... It’s also going to want to know where your Engineering Department is — the department is — where is he? Where is she?”
Mr. Sturgill, as a Portsmouth government official - YOU should want to know where is our community development director? Where is our engineering department?
Maybe 6th ward residents need to re-vote on their city councilman.