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City loses another manager
By ALEX LEARY © St. Petersburg Times, published February 20, 2001 CRYSTAL RIVER -- Public Works Director Buddy Holshouser announced his resignation Monday, citing various reasons, including the City Council's decision last week not to renew David Sallee's contract. Holshouser, who will stay on until at least May 1, is the second ranking employee to quit since the council indicated that it would not retain Sallee as city manager. Building official Walter Brown left in December, saying a preliminary council vote in November to let Sallee go was a mistake. "I can't say it's unexpected," said Mayor Ron Kitchen. "Had they renewed David Sallee's contract both Walter Brown and Buddy Holshouser would be here. "Buddy was a unique find for our city . . . somebody with his quality and experience," the mayor said. A former top manager with the city of Tallahassee department of public works, Holshouser said he was aware of the city's hot-blooded politics when he took the job last May. Still, he felt the city was moving in the right direction under Sallee. "I don't think it is now," Holshouser said from his City Hall office. Invoking council meetings that draw a bitterly partisan audience, he added: "There's an environment here that I'm just not comfortable with. Nobody seems to have the good of the community at heart." He also cited personal reasons. He said the job required more hours than he expected, eating into his family life, including the time he is able to spend with two new grandchildren. "I don't think I'm a good fit for the government right now," Holshouser said. Holshouser, 55, plans to return to Tallahassee, where he owns a house. He said he has no immediate job opportunities, having turned down a few in recent weeks, but is pursuing some leads. He said last week's council meeting gave him another reason to quit. He said he was disheartened when the council reversed a decision to privatize commercial garbage collection. Several workshops and public hearings were held and Holshouser spent weeks working on the plan, which was intended to bail out the financially struggling Sanitation Department. During the meeting, several council members said they had received phone calls from business owners who were upset that their rates would increase with a private hauler. Some of those businesses had been paying far less than they should have under the city's rate structure, say those who defend privatization. "We're elected by the people," council member Ray Wallace said Monday. "I've had no calls to do away with sanitation." He said he was shocked Holshouser was leaving, but cautioned against blaming the resignation on the council. "We're not trying to give him a hard time with his job." Holshouser, a graduate of Clemson University, was well regarded by employees and viewed as an intelligent manager. "He knows how to put the textbook knowledge to practical use," said council member Bonnie Taylor. "This is not good," she added. "I think he thought he was going to work with a professional group of people and put their knowledge to use. He doesn't know who he's going to work with." Sallee, who will leave office June 6, said his No. 2 man was one of the best municipal professionals he has worked with. "He's reliable, forward-looking and a good problem solver." He credited Holshouser for his work on several grants, including one to replace more than 500 septic systems. Sallee has recommended using a search firm to find a new public works director. Sallee was criticized for spending more than $16,000 to bring in department heads, including Holshouser.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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