Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Don't tell commission Dade City is a nice town

By Times editorial
Published April 8, 2007

Hey, Dade City. Lighten up!

There is no movement to dissolve our county seat as a municipal government. There is no move to ax the city manager. At least not from four of the five commissioners. There is little political turmoil. A much sought after motel is under construction. A business park is booming. There is no empty shell of a stalled commercial/residential complex at your downtown gateway.

But, you'd never know from reading the job posting for the soon-to-be vacant city manager's position. Harold Sample is leaving after four years, giving the city the time line he promised when he was lured from retirement in 2003.

The advertisement on the city's Web site is 13 paragraphs of government-inspired prose that does a super job of playing down the city's attributes. The ad is so vanilla a member of our editorial board wondered if the commission was trying to discourage applications in order to deliver the job to an internal candidate.

No, that's not the logic, here, but we do think the city put too much emphasis on realism. We suggest the following subtitles in italics for the subliminal meanings contained in the advertisement.

"The current manager is departing voluntarily having accepted a position in the private sector following a 35 year career in public service."

We didn't fire him. Nor the guy before him (even though some of us wanted to) or the guy before that.

"The city is governed by a mayor and four commissioners who serve staggered four-year terms."

We're stable. You won't find the wackiness of an election every April like the rest of Pasco County's cities.

"Three commissioner seats are up for election in April 2008."

Technically, you could have three new bosses next year, but it's highly unlikely.

"The city has annexed approximately 1,248 acres over the past three years including a former citrus processing plant that is being converted to a business/industrial park."

That's who grabbed our current city manager.

"Planned residential subdivisions have not materialized, yet the developers assure progress and ground breaking are imminent and commercial growth other than the business center has been modest."

We missed the bubble, but we're rearing to go.

"The city's revenue generation is limited."

Be thrifty.

"The city faces significant challenges related to its existing infrastructure accommodating the potential growth."

You have to find a way to pay for water and sewer upgrades.

"The city has some unpaved streets and many streets and sidewalks are in need of repair or have no sidewalks at all. Poor drainage results in occasional flooding in certain areas of the city."

Did we mention we have a new bike trail?

"Certain city owned buildings are showing their age. In particular, the commission has given a time line to the existing manager for an identification of a suitable building or location for a new City Hall. There has been discussion in incorporating the police department within the new structure."

Um, hold off on that police facility planning. We may yet have to decide to contract out for police as we do for fire protection.

"Dade City has developed a great reputation as an event destination, boasting downtown events that rival other towns and cities twice or three times its size."

Finally, the good stuff. We've got the youngest population of any of Pasco's six cities. We are racially and culturally diverse and carry a rich sense of heritage.

Like prep sports? The local high school baseball team was undefeated when we posted the ad and its soccer team reached the state tournament semifinals.

We've got great restaurants, a cool downtown antique district, and active chamber of commerce, merchants association and Main Street groups that keep our calendar filled with events. We are host to the county fair. There is a community college and a nearby private four-year university that has an annex downtown.

This is truly a neat place.

"The candidate must have the ability to present and promote the city's vision for the future."

No need for Ben Bolan to apply this time.

[Last modified April 7, 2007, 22:59:37]