Maybe you could consider me a bit “old-fashioned” but I still enjoy reading a newspaper. I know I can read many of them online, but there is still something “magical” about that physical paper in my hands or laying on the table as I read it. Each week I stop by a newspaper stand and pick up the latest copy of the local paper. On Sundays, I buy a paper or two from neighboring communities. When I was growing up on the farm, we did not get the paper delivered by the house, but the next day it arrived in the mail on the rural route that we live on. (Ours was RR 2, McCracken, KS.)
This past week I took a trip to the southwest portion of the State to attend the annual meeting of the Kansas Association of City Management that was held this year in Dodge City. Since I have been in City management the event has moved around the state each year and over 125 County and City Management and Administrators gather together. Even though I have been in this “game” for a number of years I always learn more about topics that I deal with on a daily basis. And there is a strong value in getting to know my colleagues as we have the same issues and we do reach out to each other when we are facing a concern to learn and consider other opinions. I stopped in a couple of smaller cities for a break and yes I picked up the current copy of the local weekly paper. Even though I am not in tune with everything happening in those communities I do enjoy reading about “What’s Happening” there.
At this year’s conference we had discussions about a number of topics, but one that “Hit Home” for me was the discussion of
technology and how it is changing the way we “do business”. Naturally some of us remember when there was only a computer in the office, and it was to manage the City’s records and handle pay roll and finance. Of course, we moved quickly to a machine in everyone’s office and technology continues to involve. Now it is Artificial Intelligence (AI). I know that we will be moving to that, and I know many who are using an AI product to create memos and job descriptions. It’s going to happen.
Even though all of us managers would never want to go back to not having the internet or a computer. None of us would. Of course, with that we also have to deal with social media. No doubt has this made public relations much different than we dealt with in the past. It is easy for everyone to form an opinion or give their point of view quickly and we often do not know how much research had been done. Naturally everyone has their ideas and thoughts, but mass media allows it to be done in a much different manner.
I often tell the story about the first City I served in. One morning after a City Council meeting I stopped by a local convenience store and joined a group who were having a cup of coffee. One person asked me what had all happened at the meeting. I looked at this person, who I knew well, and said how about you tell me. He looked at me and I said, what the community often talks about the day after a meeting is nothing close to what occurred and your version is often more colorful. Oh yes, I knew this person very well.
We often hear that local governments keep secrets. Yes there are some subjects that are confidential, but before any action is taken by a governing body, it becomes public. Confidentiality has a purpose at times in areas such as economic development. No secrets are being kept, but there are many levels of issues to wade through. When Camso, now Michelin, came to town there were discussions for nearly 2 years. Most importantly, the companies demand the discussions be confidential.
On many items, if you want information, all you have to do is request it. However, it has to be a public record. The City Commission always meets in public meeting. The agendas go out in advance and very seldom is there a change and if there is, it is a very minor matter and there are some timing issues. Yes,
the Commission may meet in Executive Sessions if all owed by law, but it is not done that often and the motion meet all legal requirements. All Executive Sessions were on the agenda before the meeting as well. Yes, there is transparency.
There is no doubt that technology will move forward. We all have cell phones with a camera and computer and these phones have changed from the old bag phone. The City spends considerable dollars each year on technology and the budget for Cyber security increases annually.
The world is different than it was. I am good with that and will go along with it, but nothing is better than a newspaper and a cup of coffee. Make that black please, with no sugar or cream.