Open letter to Florence city officials
An open letter to the City of Florence:
I wrote the letter of "misuse and abuse" on April 16 more so to find out if what I had heard was correct. As it turns out, there is more to it than I originally thought.
If Rick Burcky or I would have been reported instead of Ken Hoffman, there is no doubt there would have been punishment. As it is, the mayor has turned it around to be Rick's and/or my fault.
My return letter from the mayor was that Burcky and I had written down in our daily reports that we had done a pre-inspection on the Grasshopper (mower) the day before. Burcky also had done service work on March 25.
This may be true, but mowing was done without incident that day, and it wasn't until Hoffman mowed at Grandview Park that a problem arose.
When I asked Hoffman what had happened he replied that he ran over some of the limbs and branches left from the cleanup last year. He also said he hit some rocks and tree stumps.
I can understand how these things can happen. I really see no fault except for the fact that Hoffman did not perform a pre-inspection on the mower before he used it. Again, this is something that would have put my job in jeopardy.
The mayor said he had talked to Hoffman and has the blades in his possession. Why didn't the mayor come talk to me? After all, am I not the city superintendent? Am I not in charge of those under me?
This is yet another example of the underhandedness that has been going on. To quote the mayor, "I do have the removed blades in my possession so we can be looked at more carefully."
Mayor Lehman did order me to perform a written reprimand on Rick Burcky in September 2003, for damage to the Bush Hog. There is no difference here except the individuals involved.
I believe that as a municipality we should not hold any employee to double standards. Why didn't Hoffman receive punishment when the sewer rods were lost? Is it not true he was aware of the incident within hours of it happening? And yet, he did not report this to me at all.
Another example would be one of my conditions for probation "Jobs are not being done, as requested, in a timely manner."
Why is it that someone else is not getting their work done either. And instead of a reprimand this individual gets to lock the doors and shut the phone off at noon, making a grave inconvenience to the citizens of Florence. Again, with the double standards — or shall we call it favoritism?
What is good for one should be good for all. It really is easy to see what is going on. I guess I was just a little naïve in that I believe there is good in everyone.
I cannot work for a town filled with so much hate. I would hope that my calling here has been fulfilled, but I have a feeling I have failed our Lord.
I would like the mayor, council members, and citizens of Florence to know that I forgive them. I pray you can forgive me as well. I hope in my absence you will be forced to take a good long look at yourselves and at what has transpired, and you ask yourselves "why?" May you be at peace with all of your future decisions and learn from your mistakes.
This is a two-week notice effective April 23, 2004, ending my employment May 8, 2004.
I would appreciate the three weeks pay for my vacation that I would have earned in May. I also would like to be paid for my unused sick leave to assist with my finances until I can find further employment.
Since this was done with the last employee, I would expect that precedence has been set. Thank you for the opportunity to expand my knowledge and sharpen my skills. I will miss this job.
Stuart Funk
City Superintendent
City of Florence
(Editor's note: During a special meeting April 27, the city council voted unanimously to accept Funk's resignation effective immediately. He will receive two weeks pay and other specific benefits.)
