The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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July 8, 2008

Letter offers insight into political ‘hit list’

Gene Pipes’ letter of resignation as interim city manager dated July 2 and submitted to Mayor J. Turner and members of the City Council.



Honorable Ladies and Gentlemen:

“The time has come for me to excuse myself as Interim City Manager. I hereby give notice that I will resign my post effective at the close of the scheduled work session on Tuesday, July 15.

“The budget review work will have been largely completed by that time; the City Manager search effort will be nearly culminated; and I do not wish to remain in impediment to the cause that a majority of Council is so ardently committed. I have prided myself before on knowing when to find the exit.

“I came back to City Hall in hopes of bridging the gap not only from manager to manager, but also to span the chasm that exits between the Council and your employees. My best efforts have fallen short of both goals unfortunately, and I wish you well in finding someone up to the task.

“The council-manager form of government is a process of compromise between politics and implementation. When politics becomes a blood sport and the passion in the political arena spills over into the wheels of daily functions of public work, the wheels of progress come to a halt. I like to think of myself in terms of being part of the solution, not part of the problem.

“I fear that I, too, have become one of the ‘listed hits.’ I’ll save you a bullet. You will need all of the ammo you can muster in the fight to come in the TIRZ wars.

“The camel’s nose is so far in the fiscal tent that the cost of destruction will pale any budgetary woes that you may habor. Pity the poor taxpayer when Bishop Russell’s weekly theater of the ridiculous becomes the sublime standard of local government decorum.

“Austin has nothing on us! What a shame; the cost of acquiring political control cost us our community’s soul.

Best wishes to all and thank you for the chance to right-the-wreck. I failed, but not for the lack of effort.”



Respectfully,

Gene Pipes

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