Mayor Mike Steele, it has been stated by you and Curtis Adams for five months now that he is on the job until you find a qualified city manager.

He has been on the job now for five long months. During that time the city of East Ridge has been put through a lot of negativity by the two of you.

The question is where have you advertised for a city manager for the city of East Ridge? What measures have been taken and how many candidates have you interviewed?

I ask this because of all of the mistrust of you and Mr. Adams. There seems to be a feeling that nothing is being done to advertise for a candidate or seriously look for a qualified candidate.

Surely some movement has had to take place in five months to look for a replacement. And surely it has not been in just the last week. However, that would be welcome news.

It might be helpful to know what the "long standing requirements for the city manager" is also. I have looked on the city of East Ridge website and oddly enough nothing is listed under jobs for a city manager. This might be a great time to add it.

A.R. Blevins

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Mr. Blevins, I agree with your questions. I would love to hear the mayor's answers to these questions, but I would be very surprised if any "real" advertising has taken place for a qualified city manager. I would love to be proven wrong.

You would think that the city website would have the job listed since there is a "job" section there. Five long months and maybe they are hoping that we will be lulled to sleep and forget that a "real" search is supposed to be going on.

Oh, mayor, please prove me wrong. But do it with showing where it has been advertised and the dates. We need trust in government. You surely have a long way to go since you seem to be the only person that does not know what resigning on the spot means.

Gwen Adams

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I would be curious for answers also. I have had a sinking feeling, as well as others that I talk to, that Mike
Steele and Curtis Adams have never intended to find a replacement. That they have never advertised for a replacement. They hope all of the questions will go away and then Curtis becomes the permanent city manager.

I just looked at the East Ridge website and also cannot believe that there is no mention of this position under jobs. You would think if indeed they are advertising that an interested party would go to the city website.

Looking forward to straight forward answers to these questions. If not maybe citizens need to go to a meeting with the mayor for some real answers.

Mike Stuart

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There is a format to the selection of an East Ridge city manager and our Mayor Mike Steele is following that.

First our mayor contacted MTAS (Municipal Tech.Advisory Services) and director Mike Tallant for direction and advice. This is the area of expertise that most cities and municipal governments in Tennessee utilize for advice and legality.

Sorry he didn't mention you questioning letter writers for such information. But do not fear our mayor is doing just that and, soon as a selection is made going through the process and a selection is made, our present city manager will step down and a new city manager will be in place.

This and the qualifications are spelled out in the charter study committee's proposal for the taxpayers approval in November and on the ballot. We have encouraged that council adhere to these new suggestions.

Chuck Mehan
East Ridge
cbm2006@comcast.net