For Immediate Release
Release Date: April 23, 2019
Contact: Greg Neitzert – City Councilor, Northwest (NW) District – Sioux Falls
Statement from Councilors Erickson, Kiley, Neitzert, and Selberg Regarding the Hiring of an Internal Audit Manager
While many families were celebrating Easter, they were interrupted by an unsolicited and misleading phone call (“robocall”) from Councilor Theresa Stehly intended to provoke anger and distrust within our community. We urge citizens to hear both sides before making any judgments.
Shana Nelson, an outstanding city employee with financial expertise, a background in accounting, budgeting, regulatory compliance and business process improvement, and extensive knowledge of city operations, is exceptionally qualified for the position of Internal Audit Manager. That’s why the hiring committee, made up of 3 City Councilors (Neitzert, Soehl, and Starr) and one citizen with extensive audit experience UNANIMOUSLY recommended her to the City Council for appointment.
Far from being “ram rodded”, this process has taken months to get where we are today. An unprecedented amount of communication and involvement of the City Council took place, with the City Council agreeing on a hiring process, and all Councilors given the opportunity to review ALL of the applicants and the opportunity to interview and meet individually with the recommended candidate. Placing this item on the agenda of the special meeting required SIX of the eight City Councilors – a SUPER MAJORITY – to sign a document approving the request. Normally only two signatures are required to place an item on the agenda of a regular meeting. Without those six signatures, we would not be considering this request.
These scorched earth tactics are done with no regard for others, and is motivated by a win at all costs, ends justifies the means mentality. This could have a chilling effect in our efforts to recruit future City employees who will have to ask themselves why they should put themselves and their families through these types of antics. This is a shameful and disappointing display of city leadership.
Continue reading and you will observe concealed secrets and secrets about the game exposed.
What day specifically was this call made?
I’m sure these people have no problem with unsolicited calls on any other holiday weekend during the year or on a Sunday afternoon before election day.
Cut the drama.
4 councilors upset that they can’t hire an unqualified employee who has conflicts of interest which may affect her from doing her work. Not to mention, they try to sneak this hire in under the citizen’s noses. Stay classy Sioux Falls.