How can the city explain the changes to Parks Dept.?

To the Editor,

     I’d like to start this Letter to the Editor by asking if Monticello has suddenly come into a large sum of money out of the blue?

     The reason I’m asking is because you now have a Parks director at a starting wage of $48,000 and you have a Parks superintendent for a starting wage of $40,000. Let me point out an additional $55,000 for Parks Department spending. All this for the year 2017.

     Wow!

     How many city employees have worked for years and still don’t make this kind of money or barely make this amount?

     Tami worked for the Parks Department for 14 years. The last 12-plus years doing everything as director with the help of part-time high school students. She finally got up to $40,000 and went three years without a raise before she got the $40,000.

     Now, the city is going to pay $88,000 for two men hired to take the place of one very dedicated woman.

     The city administrator and the city council need to justify this kind of senseless spending.

     What’s the real reason behind this whole matter? Could it have something to do with the fact that baseball leagues are much harder to put together than some thought three years ago? Now they’re too embarrassed to work with Tami or even give her a chance to work with the MYBSA.

     Citizens of Monticello, this is something to think about.

     As if being told you must apply for the same job she’s been doing for 14 years wasn’t insulting enough, I believe the city administrator never had any intention of keeping Tami on as the director.

     Now, I wonder how the city administrator would appreciate being told, for no reason given, he would now have to work under the supervision of the water department supervisor? Just as an example.

     Some will say I’m biased because Tami and I have been together for 24 years. Well, maybe I am, but Tami is the most honest, loving, caring person I know.

     The idea of spending $88,000 for the same job Tami was doing for less than half that amount tells me Tami was being paid far too little.

     I was hoping for someone to stand up and ask these questions, and I can’t believe I am the only one thinking these thoughts.

     How do the city administrator and the city council explain this?

     Surely not because she’s just a woman.

Respectfully?

Jim Gadient

Monticello, Iowa