Turner reports positive first few weeks as city manager

When asked how his first four weeks as Fort Scott's new city manager, Joe Turner simply smiled and said with a laugh "busy. Can't you see?"

Numerous piles of paper are neatly stacked on the conference room table next door to Turner's office at City Hall. His desk also has multiple papers sprawled out.

Currently, Turner and his staff are putting the 2009 budget together for commissioners to review. More specifically, Turner is reviewing personnel costs, which he says is 60 percent of the budget. He's also keeping close watch and reviewing capital improvement projects, another major component of the city's budget.

Turner's first day as city manager was April 21.

The city's finances are in good shape, according to a recent independent auditor's report. They have unencumbered cash balance of over $750,000 thanks consistent years of having a budget surplus in the general fund.

"Not too many cities are in the position that the City of Fort Scott is," Turner said. "If we ever have an emergency, God forbid, I think we've got the reserves to help handle that emergency."

He's met with city staff and department supervisors and city commissioners on several occasions during his first month. He's come away very impressed with the competency of city employees.

"Very competent staff and city commission. They have met all my expectations," Turner said.

He holds weekly staff meetings with department heads. "I want to know what's going on in each department and what's on their agenda."

Turner also makes sure department supervisors know what's happening in other departments for better communication between departments.

"I'd like to have communication of the whole staff so everyone knows what's going on in the city," Turner said. "My philosophy is the police chief should know what public works is doing and public works should know what police is doing."

Turner also has created "policy reports" that is a one-page document that describes what the issue is commissioners are voting on. It also gives a background of the issue or "how we got to this point." Then, the sheet would give a recommendation from city staff. Finally, the document would include explanation of how the item, if it deals with money, impacts the budget.

The report would be available for the public to view.

"Sometimes you can get lost in a memo or long dissertation of a letter," Turner said.

The city's updated comprehensive plan, which hasn't been unveiled to the public yet, emphasizes street and sidewalk improvements, Turner said.

"I've got my mind thinking on a real aggressive capital improvement plan for streets and sidewalks," Turner said.

Regarding brick streets, Turner said staff and commissioners need to develop a policy on the rough streets. "What are the streets that have brick that are very important to the city of Fort Scott," Turner said. "We need to develop a policy on what streets should be considered to be asphalted and ones that shouldn't be. I think we can make a policy that says we will not overlay certain streets."

It's no secret that residents have had a lack of faith in city government in the last several years. Spawning from the lack of faith, a group of individuals formed to hold government accountable for its actions. They voiced concerns over the way the city made decisions in recent years, and they have said they were not treated correctly by city officials or the commission when they aired their concerns.

"I will listen to everyone," Turner said. "Most of the time they want someone to listen to them, give them an answer. I'll give them an answer. It might not be what they want to hear but it will be the best for the city."

Turner said he's always been an "ethical person" when it comes to making decisions. "I've always felt that if there's the least bit of question, don't do it," Turner said.

Turner grew up in Atchison. He attended Catholic elementary and high school in Atchison. After graduating high school, Turner worked for Hallmark Cards as a stockmen in the warehouse for 10 years. He decided to attend Central Missouri State University,(now called University of Central Missouri) graduating with a degree in business administration with a functional major in accounting.

He worked at an accounting firm in Westport, Mo., following graduation then was employed as a senior accountant at Park College(now Park University). Turner also took classes at CMSU's extension campus in Blue Springs, Mo., earning a master's degree in business administration in 1985. Turner then worked as a controller at St. Mary's College.

He moved back home to become the financial director for the City of Atchison and then with the City of Levenworth.

Turner moved from finance director jobs to city manager of Atchison. "I always wanted to be the city manager of my home town," he said. "I was there 14 years."

After Atchison, he accepted a position as the city administrator for Parkville, Mo., before becoming Fort Scott's new city manager.

He said Fort Scott's city manager style of government is exactly like Atchison. The town's budgets are similar budgets and operation of services like water utilities.

"I like the city manager form of government a little bit better," Turner said. "You have more responsibility."