WEATHERJASON'S MAILBAG: Who will be Sandusky's next police chief?
Aug 26
2010
Q: Jason, now that Kim Nuesse is no longer the police chief, will the city name Charlie Sams the full-time chief? Or will they wait to find out what happens with Kim Nuesse's appeal? Is there any chance the new police chief will be someone other than Sams?
-- Beth on Ontario St.
A: Thanks for the questions, Beth. No, acting Chief Charlie Sams will not be named the full-time police chief. He's said on numerous occasions he doesn't want the job. He's not only said that to me, but to interim city manager Don Icsman and some of the commissioners. I think he likes being a cop, not an administrator.
The city will begin its search for a new chief soon. According to the city charter, the city must form a search committee comprised of the ex officio mayor (Dan Kaman), the chairwoman of the Civil Service Commission (Janice Warner) and three residents selected by the mayor. Kaman will likely form that committee sometime next month.
As for Nuesse's appeal, the city will tell all potential candidates that if the Sixth District Court of Appeals reinstates Nuesse, she will get her job back, regardless of whom the city hires. So anybody interested in the job will know that upfront.
Kaman said he may reach out to statewide and national police organizations to find candidates. Kim Nuesse will also be allowed to apply for the job, Icsman said. In the end, the search committee will recommend at least two candidates to Icsman, and he will make the final decision.
Q: Jason, could you let me know about the floral clock downtown? It has the date displayed in plants/flowers. I am wondering who alters this every day. It is very beautiful and whoever goes through the effort to change the date in flora each day should be commended for their efforts.
-- Karen, visiting from Rochester, N.Y.
A: Our greenhouse takes care of the floral clock, Karen. Tom Speir is the greenhouse's foreman. The greenhouse is one of the best assets we have in this city. What Tom does with the city's flowers and landscaping -- especially Washington Park, where the floral clock is located -- is one of the things that makes Sandusky truly unique and special. Thank you for visit and reading our newspaper. Please come back soon!
Q: Can you tell me why the City of Sandusky has to negotiate the retirement of fire chief Mike Meinzer? A municipal employee's retirement is covered by state law that entitles them to a percentage of their top three years of salary. A year's salary plus his unused sick and vacation time from a supposedly cash-strapped city sounds like a lot.
-- Harry on Venice Road
A: I think Mike Meinzer's probably ready to retire, but wasn't in a financial position to do so with kids who still depend on him financially. And I think the city was ready to move in a different direction and find a new fire chief. So both sides wanted this to happen, but they needed to add some fiscal incentives to make it feasible. I agree, it's a lot of money, but for both sides to move forward, they felt it was necessary.
Just so you know, I'm only speculating about Mike's motives. I haven't talked to him much since he went on sick leave.
Q: Any update on the coal-tar plume and the samples they took from down there? I haven't heard/read anything in a few weeks.
-- Donald on Ogontz St.
A: Malcolm Pirnie, the city's environmental consultant that took the samples, will send the city a final report sometime next month. Once the city has that report, it can start looking at cleanup and containment plans. As soon as I know anything more, I'll get a story into the newspaper.
To ask Jason a question, send a letter to 314 W. Market St. or e-mail singer@sanduskyregister.com. Please include your first name and a location in the e-mail, e.g. "John from Decatur Street."
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Comments
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03:15 AM
Julie R. says
For a county that claimed they needed a 4th Judge so badly and claimed it would at no additional expense to the taxpayers, this joke county is using the visiting judge scam now more than ever. They're even using them to fix their dirty probate cases. In fact, the sneaks are even using sitting judges from corrupt Cuyahoga County!
Erie County Common Pleas Court
Probate Division
Erie County, Ohio
Judge Carolyn B. Friedland
01:00 PM
Outside lookin in says
Remember...Visiting Judge Scherk was a Court of Appeals Judge in Toledo. Do you really think that they would overrule one of their own??? A past Supreme Court Justice once said "anyone who gets Justice from the court system...is purely by accident." All these lawyers protect each other so that they can continually steal from the public. Finding an honest lawyer in the USA is like finding a 4 foot center in the NBA...Its possible but highly unlikely.
08:21 AM
Julie R. says
Kim is allowed to re-apply for Police Chief? Now THAT is toooo funny! Not that I think she should or even would. If what SarahTonin said is true----that an officer had a patch on that said "Down with Nuesse"-----who in the world would want to work with a juvenile outfit like that? Sounds like something a bunch of grade-school bullies would do!
05:47 AM
Megalomania says
Taxpayer says he knows all the "command staff units" hehe
10:15 AM
SarahTonin says
Good going Outsider! DITTO It's pretty bad that when you call for police assistance and an officer shows up, with a shoulder patch that says "Down with Nuesse".
08:34 AM
outsider says
Nuesse, Sams and the whole command staff need to exit stage right from this fiasco. Iscman should be included. Then start with the county. Baxter, Bixler, Meyers ,Johnson, Fazzio and Daniels to name a few. Mismanagement of taxpayer funds. What a mess.
08:40 AM
gene44870 says
She can what? lol Well all i can say is , is if she applies , we might as well leave sanduksy , cause there wont be a city lft to fight for .
And I have a question , maybe someone can answer for me ? I am asking tax payer ,why nis it that the city council can find them , and then let them know that , but at the same token place ths on the ballet and let the people like you and me vote for them? wouldnt that take the heat off the city ? and not to mention it would let the residents have the final say as to who they want ? Not to mention it may also get someone in that is all ready a sandusky or perkins police chief . I think that this should come up at the nest sandusky city meeting .
Plain and simple
You know why , I can tell you what I think , I think its cause the city is afraid that if it was done the right way then it would take the power away from them and place it back where it belongs , and thats the residents of the city of Sandusky.
08:07 AM
Taxpayer says
Kim Nuesse may get her job back. You can cry and bellyache all you want. There is a good possibililty she will be reinstated with all her expenses (Attorney) PAID. Get over it! My concern is why must the city go outside the department? Don't they have any confidence in the performance of the current command staff officers? Did those officers bring this upon themselves? Like I said before, it was NOT a good idea to enter into an OPEN public hearing against Nuesse. In the long run, the PEOPLE have no confidence in the leadership of SPD. I feel there are two that need a chance to lead. I know all the command staff units and feel we should try to hire from within. It will not be easy because they have all worked together in a UNION which will require this person to separate themselves from that environment. But, I feel they can do it. It is up to the PEOPLE to decide. I wish one did not testify and become cannon fodder for the SR. He has been destroyed by an editor of a newpaper just for "payback" and such journalistic privilege was apparently successful. Going outside is the same formula when they hired Nuesse.
07:43 AM
Cityslicker says
Kim Nuesse being allowed to re-apply for the Police Chief position is like allowing Tim McClung to re-apply for Perkins Chief, or that Holeton gal re-apply for her job at the Treasurer's Office. Thats a bunch of McDung. No pun intended.