Sheiffer will retire after 21 years at helm
Podcast Episode
Janesville attorney Harry O'Leary, a former Janesville City Council member for 12 years, comments on the retirement of Janesville City Manager Steve Sheiffer
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Janesville City Manager Steve Sheiffer points out a need to address the deteriorating former Accudyne building on Franklin during a bus tour.
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City Manager Steve Sheiffer points out the proposed GM truck by pass.
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Steve Sheiffer
JANESVILLE — The city might do a national search to find a replacement for City Manager Steve Sheiffer, Council President George Brunner said after Sheiffer announced his Sept. 2 retirement Monday night.
Brunner said he will meet with the human resources director and with Sheiffer in the next few days or so to see what replacement search options should be presented to the council.
He said the search would likely include the region, if not the nation.
Brunner said that while he was not surprised by the retirement announcement—it has been rumored that Sheiffer would retire this year—he was “a little bit surprised by the timing.”
He said he would have guessed it would be more toward the end of the year rather than in the middle of 2009 budget deliberations.
“This puts us on a relatively short timeline to decide which direction we’re going as far as a search for a replacement,” Brunner said.
A search firm probably will be considered to help the council, he said.
Brunner said he personally would look for someone who shares Sheiffer’s strong financial and economic development background.
Sheiffer said he is retiring to enjoy his family, friends and the community.
He has been manager here since May 4, 1987, when he was hired from Concord, Mass., after a national search.
Sheiffer would not answer any questions after his announcement other than to say he is planning on staying in Janesville.
In his statement, Sheiffer praised Janesville for its environment, recreation, culture, medical services and commercial activity. He also praised his family.
“With a sense of deep satisfaction and pleasure, now is the time for me to fully enjoy my family, friends and community,” he said.
Sheiffer said his last day would be Sept. 2. But he said his final date of employment would be in the fall based on vacation leave.
“I wish to thank the community and all the city council members and employees I have worked with over the last 20 plus years,” Sheiffer said. “My service as city manager has been a great pleasure and privilege.”
When Sheiffer was hired, Janesville was in an economic downturn. The city had lost 1,250 jobs in the mid-1980s when General Motors opened a plant in Fort Wayne, Ind., and moved a truck production line there.
Sheiffer is credited with bringing new economic life to Janesville, including aggressive and sometimes creative uses of tax incremental finance districts.
He has been praised in the past for his financial skills and has continued to steer the city through tough financial times. Because of his foresight, residents have barely noticed cuts in services as state shared revenues dropped. The city’s tax rate is one of the lowest among peer cities even while he has maintained quality services, council members have said.
But in the last five years or so, Sheiffer has been a lightning rod for a segment of the community unhappy with City Hall.
Some people say he can be abrasive and condescending and have said Sheiffer actually runs the city rather than the council.
Others say Sheiffer has just been here longer than the average tenure for a city manager and was bound to make some people unhappy.
People unhappy with a 2002 assessment got enough residents to sign a petition to force the state to investigate. The state gave the city mostly high marks, saying it could improve its public relations. The city has not had an assessment since 2002, and soon could be in danger of being in non-compliance with the state.
From the 2002 assessment upheaval came a drive to change the council-manager form of government to a mayor-council system.
Janesville residents overwhelmingly voted to keep the current form.
Councils have consistently given Sheiffer high marks over the years.
Some accomplishments under his Sheiffer’s tenure include:
-- Reuther Way, the limited-access road to General Motors
-- The Highway 11 bypass
-- The Youth Sports Complex
-- The new police station
-- A remodeled City Hall
-- A push to buy properties along the Rock River for either redevelopment or open space
-- A remodeled public library
-- A remodeled senior center
-- The YMCA and the Boys & Girls Club
-- The bike trail
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the Janesville City Council on Monday:
-- Approved an ordinance that bans skateboarders from certain areas of the downtown. Business owners had complained of damage to their structures.
All council members voted in favor of the ordinance except Tim Wellnitz and Paul Williams.
Craig DeGarmo was absent.
Wellnitz said he empathized with the property owners but said the ordinance “goes too far to restrict individual freedoms on public sidewalks where people should be able to skateboard.” And Williams said the ordinance punishes the good kids because of the actions of a few.
-- Delayed a voted on an ordinance that would allow neighborhood electric vehicles to operate on city streets. The council was scheduled to vote on the ordinance on Monday but the Department of Transportation said the ordinance wasn’t specific enough as to which highways were off limits.
NEVs are not allowed on roadways with speed limits more than 35 mph.
A new ordinance has been drafted, and a public hearing is planned for the Monday, Feb. 11, council meeting.
Jan 30, 2008 at 10:05 p.m.
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I wish Mr. Sheiffer well and a happy retirement. I don't think you could find any city where taxpayers aren't moaning, groaning
and bitterly complaining. It is so sad! One man is not responsible for everything. There will always be "your side - my side". All you
negative people should run for council seats,
school board seats, church council, etc and see
how popular your views and contributions are.
Grow up and start playing fair!! Volunteer and make changes, don't just sit around crabbing. I may not live in Janesville but all cities seem to have complaints. It is all about personal opinion. Let the man retire and perhaps actually admit that Janesville is a good city that has been managed well! P.S. Perhaps people would take some of the comments more seriously if they were typed and spelled correctly. Some people need dictionaries and/or tutors.
Jan 30, 2008 at 7:03 p.m.
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CARD group?! What CARD group!
Except for two or three like-minded groupies, there is no CARD group. Last year on her show she tried to rally 100 people to cause a ruckus during a future council meeting so that the arrestees could then demand jury trials all for the purpose of jamming up the court system.
Point one: Why after all those years of exposure in several media didn't she already have a hundred people?
Point two: Her plea failed to rally anyone.
Jan 30, 2008 at 6:14 p.m.
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Message emailed to me by MOUSE 1323:
Hello Ladystardust-
You need to inform yourself a little better before posting comments on
the web site. The Boys and Girls Club has things for any age up to 18. Granted he isn't able to go there as much as he'd like lately. It is open to teens as
well as younger kids. They even have a separate later time also just for
teens. I don't know that much about it cuz my son is not nearly old
enough for this.
And you said it yourself, the only information you have is from what
you seen on tv and especially from the CARD group! That is NOT much to go
on. You are basing your opinion on one side and you will get a
negative picture if you go by what the CARD group has to say. Especially
Briarmoon. Don't get me started on her!
My family and I know Sheiffer personally and he is a very nice person.
He may not make the best desicions all the time and definitely does not
make the most popular ones at times but he does the best he is capable
of doing. No one is perfect. At least he has the guts to try and make
a difference. When you are in a position like his, there is going to be
a big group of people who are against you and everything you do.Why not educate yourself a little better before attacking someone you know NOTHING about.
Jan 30, 2008 at 6:13 p.m.
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MY RESPONSE TO MOUSE1323
I know for a fact that there is nothing for teens to do past 8 especially if you have no money. I have volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club . I have painted faces for halloween, I have baked cookies for their Valentine's Day.I know that if you are not into sports or dancing it is pretty boring sitting there all day long. I brought it up because the city council could have expanded the club instead of making a pool that YMCA members will enjoy.I obviously read the paper so I am informed but it is still biased , misinterpreted, and things are left out by the gazette. I have explained in my post that I have watched the city council meetings and stated my observations. I also explained that I have watched Karen Andreah Briarmoon's show and I have heard her talk about Sheiffer. I didn't say I agree with her or that I like her at all what so ever. I have the right to share my opinion on this website whether you agree or not. If you have some comment, please post it at the article, and not to my email address. You may think what you want of me, be it stupid, uneducated, or annoying. I don't care what you think. Nothing I say is going to change the fact that our government is corrupted on a local, statewide and federal level and suggesting that our City Manager improved our community is a matter of perspective. I don't care if you like the guy and you know him personally. I don't care if your son is a member of B & G and I don't care if the next city manager is your friend either. What matters is poverty and homelessness and poor kids signing up to die for oil because they can't afford U Rock's outrageous tuition fees and there are battered women and children and juvenile delinquents (bored teenagers) in our own back yard, and my question is what has he done in his 21 years to address any of these issues?
By the way Mouse, you shouldn't declare someone uneducated simply because you believe they know NOTHING of your friend. At least I was educated enough to spell the word decisions.
Jan 30, 2008 at 4:26 p.m.
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The Youth Sports Complex is a great addition to Janesville, but it could be a lot better. Family and friends get tickets for parking on the grass because there is not enough parking and it takes 10+ minutes to get in and out of the place. There is only one restroom and it's not centrally located. One of his accomplishments should have been getting money back from the design firm!!! Now we taxpayers will probably pay for studies to determine if traffic lights are needed and more rest rooms are required.
Jan 30, 2008 at 2:27 p.m.
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Point well made, teeber. Maybe my comments on the "Park has bite" story would have been suited to follow your comments on funding of our Parks & Rec. Department. I agree with your synopsis for the most part. However appropriate they are, I wrote the comments prior to reading this. Rather than repost, I will just let you read them there.
I would also like to add that I have to give it to any worker that dedicates a good portion of their life to serving the public. For what he has done for us, we thank him. We thank him with pay. There is such thing as thanking a person too much. Let's just hope that the person who takes the place of The Great One is not "thanked" too much before proving worthy. We would hate to have set a precedent.
Jan 30, 2008 at 11:08 a.m.
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He ran the city too "lean". Thats why the Recreation, Parks, and other service areas are so poorly run down and understaffed. I have a hard time trying to figure out why he cut these departments to bare bones and expected us to believe that the quality of life here is so great when in reality its not. He got "big" raises while the departments suffer. That's a shame. It's time we all asked questions of our elected officals and start getting answers. It's time to change the "good old boys" status. Lets start getting the quality of life back into our community by restoring fundings for Recreation, Parks, And the other city services that make the quality of life good here. I'm glad he's choosen to go! Whew!
Jan 30, 2008 at 7:34 a.m.
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I'm glad he is getting out of the job. I think he pushed for large projects to enhance his resume more than to improve the city. It's the residents fault that they didn't elect enough city council members with a backbone to tell him "No! It's too expensive and won't give enough Janesville residents a useful return for their tax dollars."
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The limited access road was an expensive boondoggle to suck up to an overbearing national corporation. They forced people out of their homes to cut a minute or two off the driving time of delivery trucks.
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The Highway 11 bypass chopped up a lot of what is the some of our state's finest farm land, and I've never seen significant traffic on it. Have other readers noticed enough vehicles on it to justify the loss of farmland?
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Entirely TOO MUCH PUBLIC MONEY has been wasted on "developing" the downtown area. Property purchases and TIFs for an area that was neglected for decades by the banks that controlled trust funds of the owners. It has also structurally outlived it's usefulness. There is not enough land for businesses AND the volume of required parking for the 21st Century. It was ok for horse traffic when the city was founded, but we are now a 1+ car-per-person society, not a 1 car-per-family society. Time to move on out to Milton Avenue, where today's business and adequate infrastructure exists.
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The libary wasted too much of the Hedberg's generous donation on form instead of function for their remodeling.
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The once place where the city hasn't spent enough money is on the senior citizen center (note: I've got more than a decade to go before I hit 65). The city should take some of that overpriced land they own downtown (preferably close to the bus depot to better server senior citizens who no longer drive) and build a new, one-floor, totally handicap-accessible senior citizen center.
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I hope the new city council does a better job of selecting Sheiffer's replacement.
Jan 30, 2008 at 7:21 a.m.
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Thank Goodness! Maybe now someone will come in and not only help the citizens of Janesville but the COJ valiable employees that requested help or information ( what good employees they have left ). Steve S was suppose to be there for ALL not just who he chose to help.There are so many COJ employees that slack at there job and do the bare minium but nobody seems to care especially if they have been there many years. I hope the replacement will take a step back and see what is and what is not being done for the COJ!
Suggestion for his replacement - Jay Winzenz.
Jan 29, 2008 at 9:45 p.m.
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Responding to Ladystardust.
First of all your source of reliable information about Steve Sheiffer is not credible. (K. A. Briarmoon and/or C.A.R.D.)
What does the city manager have to do with providing food and assistance? "...And if he is such a great guy, how come there is still huge lines at Salvation Army's soup kitchen, and at the Job Center and at local church food drives?" Is this
the purview of City Government to provide food, or jobs. I thought the role of city government is to promote an environment
where opportunity exists. People should then take advantage of these opportunities, not whine when the city doesn't deliver your needs to your door.
It is plain to see by your dig at President Bush that you 'feel' that government should provide for you from cradle to grave. Guess what you are wrong. Your attraction to C.A.R.D. and your conclusion that Mr. Sheiffer is making a quick exit (20 years is a quick exit?) reenforces the fact that you have limited knowledge about how government works, but lots of 'feelings' about what the government owes you.
Jan 29, 2008 at 9:13 p.m.
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From reading these posts, I can't decide whether Mr. Sheiffer should be Knighted or beheaded. But 21 years does not make for a fast retirement. Stardust must cloud reason.
Jan 29, 2008 at 4:59 p.m.
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Great job Steve. I hope that your retirement years are enjoyable for you. You will be hard to replace and deserve our thanks.
Jan 29, 2008 at 4:42 p.m.
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to ladystardust:
you said, "what special interests did you cash out that made you decide to retire so fast?"
He's been the city manager for 21 years. A fast retirement would've been in the year one!
Jan 29, 2008 at 4:29 p.m.
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Oh yes, the manager was an enlightened progressive. I have an idea, lets vote on that!!
Jan 29, 2008 at 4:01 p.m.
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Okay, let me rephrase that, as Ms. Briarmoon definitely 'marches to a different drum' and that's her right. However, Mr. Sheiffer has done a lot for the community and just because people don't get their way does not mean he's wrong and thinks he's a King.
Get involved in the community, VOTE! There are ways to make a difference people.
Thank you, Steve, for making Janesville a great community to live and work in.
Jan 29, 2008 at 3:57 p.m.
Jan 29, 2008 at 3:44 p.m.
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From the City of Janesville Webpage:
"The City Manager is the City's Chief Executive and is responsible for the implementation of the City Council's policies and priorities. This is accomplished by coordinating the official business of the City Council and by providing leadership and direction to the entire organization. Other duties of the City Manager include the following:
Preparing the annual budget;
Attending City Council meetings;
Recommending policies or programs to the City Council;
Keeping the City Council fully advised on financial and other conditions of the city; and
Supplying the City Council with information to aid decision making."
Looks like those who are unhappy with Scheiffer can point to the city council as well. Scheiffer is not a King, does not enact city laws without impunity.
Historically 5000 people vote for city council. I believe the number eligible to vote is a factor much high than 5000.
Lesson to be learned-Vote, and become involved. Its really easy to criticize its much harder to take a principled stance for doing what is best.
Jan 29, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
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All I can say is that is is about time. A new face is needed with the understanding that whom ever fills his shoes listens to the people and their thoughts, ideas, suggestions and wnats/not wants.
Jan 29, 2008 at 2:15 p.m.
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The Progressivism movement began in Wisconsin with Robert M. LaFollette, and professional city management is closely connected to that movement. The mayor-council (or mayor-alderman, i.e. by district) system basically lends itself to corruption and one-party rule. Elected officials are not trained in budgeting or planning (or even law) and are often out to accomplish particular political ends. A common council is a multi-person executive that keeps an eye on each other and by design takes advice from a manager with a proven resume.
There is no system of government that is perfect but what Sheiffer has accomplished as a professional manager seems widely unrecognized. We have low unemployment, a diversifying industrial base, a flourishing commercial district on the Interstate, a downtown that is on an upturn, growing entertainment options, well-maintained streets, attractive parks and bike trails, and we do it all with (believe it or not) a comparatively low tax rate and a high bond rating. I don't agree with all of Sheiffer's choices, but I know that council-manager government has been right for Janesville. Finding another city manager with his skill set will be difficult.
Jan 29, 2008 at 1:25 p.m.
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Job well done Steve! Excellent manager and even better person.
Jan 29, 2008 at 11:22 a.m.
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Thank you Mr. Sheiffer for all you've done to improve Janesville!
Jan 29, 2008 at 11:04 a.m.
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Whatever happened to aldermans? Why is it against the city's interest to elect a mayor-council system? I never really heard about this Sheiffer guy except for what I have seen on the JATV 'meetings' where he was condescending to everyone who questioned his statements(motives) and I have heard all about him from JATV's C.A.R.D. show host Karen Andreah Briarmoon.....I am sure she is doing cart wheels right now.
All of his mentioned tenure looks good on the surface, but what has he really done to improve our community? He only created more debts for us all to pay for
when only a small percentage of us enjoy. Boys & Girls Club was the only needed facility but they do not offer a place for teenagers to go so it only helps kids out until they are at least 12. We can only use the bike trail when it is nice out, and we already have Key Clubs who volunteer to clean it up. And if he is such a great guy, how come there is still huge lines at Salvation Army's soup kitchen, and at the Job Center and at local church food drives? If he really cared about our community and family, he would have expanded any one of these in order to create a better city where people can work and can buy gas to drive on reuther way just to go to the job center because they need food stamps since they already got the limit from Salvation Army.
Good riddance steve. I hope you are deeply satisfied, like Bush is deeply satisfied. Makes us wonder, what special interests did you cash out that made you decide to retire so fast?
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