Tony,
You have missed my point completely but so have the big 5 every time I have spoken at Open Time at the MPRB. I have seen Mr. Gurban's resume, and other than it would not pass muster with my college English prof for detail and consistent presentation I'm sure he has worked in many jobs related to parks. It is the work he has "done" and I use the term lightly during the last 10 months that has not impressed me. The budget planning was a sham. The "cuts" were based on commissioner surveys. When I asked for copies to see why services such as outdoor supervision were rated so low I was told that only 5 commissioners had turned in the surveys and that the individual surveys were not retained. How can I hold my commissioner responsible for his (or her) decisions? How do I even know if anyone really made these determinations other than I.S.Gurban?. I have also wondered why we are spending so much money on outside planners and consultants when Judd Reitkirk was praising the in house team up and down last year for having the skills to do the planning and for saving us so much money. And as to dealing with the public scaring off applicants, that says a mouthful. Scared of me, a housewife from Northeast, hardly. I think that it is the BIG 5 and their power trip that is making this job unattractive to some and that was backed up by statements made by Andrea Sims of the Oldani search firm. They did not even want mention of any board contention in the search advertisements. A simple Google search would have shown the bright lights on that problem in an instant. The Park and Rec system in Minneapolis is nationally renown and as a "premiere" park system I don't think someone with exceptional top level experience should be too much to ask.
I have sent in a question for the candidates and plan to attend the interviews on both Nov. 30th and Dec 1st at 5:00 pm at the MPRB headquarters. I am hoping that my commissioner (Dziedzic) will be paying attention, and that he will be more concerned about the future of our parks than whatever issue motivated him to nominate Interim Superintendent Gurban last year.
Liz Wielinski Columbia Park
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