Letter to the Editor: City Officials Waiting and Wondering While Mielke Was Shopping

To the Editor:

As an entrepreneur, and a former city council candidate, I find it troubling and pompous when our Lakeville City Administrator is while supposedly working for our best interest. After connecting with, and , Steve Mielke, the current city administrator, has now suggested “you have to be passionate about where you’re working." That begs the question, if you’re passionate about Lakeville, why would you be out looking for another job? And at $137,000, which is a pay cut from the current generous pay of $151,000 (he makes in Lakeville). Further, how can we now trust that Mielke is not going to go “cheat” on Lakeville again?

When I say “cheat” I am putting it into the context of a relationship. If your spouse or partner told you they were going to check out some other potential relationship candidates and would let you know how it goes and whether or not they would be leaving, would you be ok with that?  Would you trust them?

Let me give you a business scenario with a similar situation and outcome. You have a general executive manager that runs all the divisions of your Fortune 500 corporation. That person decides to look for another job while handling the current one. As a stake holder, what can you expect to happen when this person decides they have really found that the “grass was not greener on the other side of the fence.” Are they still the person you will trust?

“I was not as excited about the job as I needed to be," he has said, but how excited could he be working for Lakeville if he is looking for another job? Whether people want to admit it or not, it may be time for some fresh blood, passion and vision in the position that shapes how the city moves forward for years to come.

Marc Bourdeaux, Lakeville