City Manager Unfiltered
City Manager Unfiltered is a podcast by a city manager for city managers. I am your host, Joe Turner, and I’m on a mission to build a community for ambitious city managers. I want to provide you with the career tools and resources to help make you a better executive so you can rack up victories, polish your resume, dominate interviews, land your dream job, and win your contract negotiations. If you are a city manager looking to level up, check out my podcast, City Manager Unfiltered. Hit that subscribe button today so you don’t miss an episode.
Episodes
Episodes
Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Disgruntled ICMA Spouse, Crappy Salaries & 2023 Year In Review | Ep. 33
Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
A disgruntled spouse of an ICMA member emailed me in December to express their frustration with staff salaries and the luxurious international travel junkets enjoyed by organizational executives and the executive board members.
A city manager vents to me about the crappy salary listed in a job recruitment brochure.
And I take a look back at my LinkedIn and podcast stats for 2023 and compare my performance against that of the ICMA and Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL).
SHOW NOTES:
In this episode I introduced a new donation/supporter link. If you are interested in supporting the podcast with a one time or monthly recurring donation, please visit this link.
Link to the City Manager Unfiltered podcast press release inviting Pacific Grove (CA) Councilman Luke Coletti to come on the podcast.
Daniel Rosemond is the author of "Death of the Public Servant".
Link to top 10 podcast episodes in 2023.
Link to top LinkedIn posts in 2023.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.
Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page
Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
Threats of Violence Forces Cancellation of City Manager Interview | Ep. 32
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
Former Fort Meade City Manager Jan Bagnall declined to be interviewed for the second part of our interview series after receiving multiple threats since our first interview aired on December 13th, or Episode 29.
On New Year's Day, I received an email from a stranger named Greg King. I would later learn that he was the campaign manager for Jaret Williams, who one his Fort Meade commission race in November.
I was unsure how to proceed and a little concerned based on some of the things Bagnall had shared. However, I was uncomfortable putting just one-side of the story out there without giving the "other side" equal time to make their case.
So, I decided to respond to King's inquiry and we discussed the situation in Fort Meade on the phone. I recorded the call and feature it in this episode of the podcast.
We also discussed the impending arrival of Pat Oman, the incoming city manager who was recently hired by the governing body without he input and consideration of Mr. Williams.
SHOW NOTES:
In the introduction, I mentioned Mark Moses book: The Municipal Financial Crisis.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.
Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page
Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Live Like You Were Dying with Nick Kittle | Ep. 31
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Nick Kittle is a nationally recognized leader in the field of public sector innovation and author of the book, Sustainovation. At the age of 35, Nick suffered a major health scare and it would become a catalytic moment in his quest to find personal purpose and fulfillment. He would go on to ask himself the following question: "What pays my soul?"
We explore a wide array of topics in this deeply personal and introspective conversation with relevant and applicable lessons for public sector managers seeking to build a more innovative department or organization.
SHOW NOTES:
Nick Kittle is the author of "Sustainovation: Building sustainable innovation in government, one wildly creative idea at a time." He is an accomplished public speaker and you can find additional information at his website: Sustainovation.us.
You are also invited to reach out and contact him for professional advice and consultation on his LinkedIn page.YouTube video link for Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying"
SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.
Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page
Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Ep. 30 | Daniel Rosemond Updates Us on Wrongful Termination Lawsuit
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Former Hallandale Beach city manager Daniel Rosemond checks-in to update us on his wrongful termination lawsuit. The author of the "Death of the Public Servant" won a massive multi-million dollar judgment and we discussed his story from termination to jury awarded verdict to the appeal filed by the Florida beach community.
Rosemond recently received news from the court that the city's appeal hearing date has been set.
We talk about the upcoming appeal hearing, the support he has received from fellow city managers since appearing on the show, his affordable housing consulting business, and other associated topics.
You can catch the previous episodes as follows:
Ep. 10 | Death of the Public Servant
Ep. 12 | Revenge of the Public Servant
Ep. 16 | Betrayal of the Public Servant
SHOW NOTES:
Daniel Rosemond is the author of "Death of the Public Servant" and CEO of the East to West Development Corporation. You are invited to reach out and contact him for professional advice and consultation on affordable housing initiatives and to support him by purchasing his book.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.
Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page
Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
First-time City Manager Taps Out in Fort Meade, FL (Part 1) | Ep. 29
Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
Jan Bagnall enjoyed a long, successful career in the private sector working for electrical utility companies. But the $350,000 salary came at a cost -- 45 weeks of travel per year. Looking for some work-life balance and to ease into retirement, Jan thought municipal utility work would be a new and interesting challenge.
Shortly after becoming the first electrical utility director for the City of Fort Meade, Florida, he would transition and assume the role of city manager. However, his experience was so surreal and traumatic that he would resign a couple of years into his tenure and renounce the city management profession.
From being physically accosted to having his wife suffer public harassment and hectoring at the local grocery store, Jan and his wife have endured quite a bit. We discuss it in much detail in Part 1 of this interview series.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.
Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page
Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
Becoming a City’s First Ever City Manager with Amanda Mack | Ep. 28
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
When Amanda Mack was tapped to lead the City of Watertown, South Dakota, she didn't just become their first ever female city manager. She became their first ever city manager.
And the manner in which Watertown maneuvered through this process created the foundation for a successful conversion and fruitful marriage between Mack, the governing body, and the community.
The multi-year process culminated in the selection of Mack and though she has enjoyed her experience, there have been some incredible challenges necessitating hard work, passion, and grace.
We talk about her experiences and discuss some of the challenges and opportunities that a new manager faces when they become the first executive to lead the organization.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.
Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page
Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Setting and Enforcing Governing Body Boundaries with John Weidl | Ep. 27
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Wisconsin City Manager John Weidl's boundaries were crossed by members of his governing body while out on paternity leave. This led him to start searching for another position where he was ultimately named as a finalist for a manager position in a neighboring community.
However, he withdrew from the recruitment and opted to continue serving as the city manager for the City of Whitewater.
We talk about the importance of setting and enforcing boundaries and why he decided to stick it out and work with his governing body to build a stronger, healthier relationship with them in this powerful episode.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.
Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page
Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
The 36-hour workweek with Jamie Gwynn | Ep. 26
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
Jamie Gwynn is an innovative leader on the cutting edge of the alternative work schedule debate. He needed to get creative if he was going to be competitive in this tight labor market, especially as he was forced to compete against the high wages offered by local governments in the Philadelphia metroplex.
We examine the New Hanover Township manager's implementation of a 36-hour workweek in a small, but rapidly growing community with a governing body entirely comprised of Republicans.
Coming out of the COVID pandemic, alternative work schedules are a popular topic. And Gwynn may be the very first in the nation to implement such a schedule.
He is passionate about this subject and encourages other managers to reach out to him with any questions. I have included a link to his LinkedIn profile below.
SHOW NOTES:
Jamie Gwynn's LinkedIn Profile
SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.
Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page
Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Joe Turner
Born and raised in Southern California, Joe Turner moved to Kansas in 2018 to pursue a career in city management after spending many years working for elected officials and engaged in grassroots advocacy.
As a non-traditional entrant into the field, he brings a unique perspective on city management and local government issues.
However, it has been his ruminations on the evolving professional landscape for city managers and his opinions on contract negotiations and compensation packages that has propelled him to the forefront as a thought leader and influencer amongst peers.
Turner has lamented the lack of advocacy on behalf of city managers as professionals and believes there is a void in this space with respect to advocating for and on behalf of public sector managers, not just the profession of city management.
You can catch up with him over on Linkedin.