While Sheiffer has done many good things for the city, he stuck around about 10 years too long. Particularly at the end of his reign, he let his natural(?) arrogance show and allowed personal vendettas to seep into public policy (e.g. his feud with Mercy, some personnel decisions), at times to the detriment of the city and its tax payers.

Every city manager brings something new to the table. Mr. Sheiffer did so and I am looking forward to what the new person will bring. It would be nice to have someone whose management style is not, as one new city employee put it, management by fear.

Oh, i wasnt aware of that; thats interesting. I have heard people around town talking about that pool deal (I work in customer service)and the issue with the Y and the issue with restoring the two exsisting pools seem to have gottn muddled together. I was watching a little bit about that on cable access (i forget the names of your pool and wading pool). Anyway from what I gather, it seems to me that it would make sense to leave them the way they are and or perhaps add an additional deeper pool to the wading pool or vise versa depending on what the place looks like; ive never actually been to either of those parks. Or the very least one could do, it would seem,would be just open up a concession stand. Seems simple. Almost too simple. I mean here we got a park with a pool. No two parks with one pool each. They both need money. Open a pop stand. Sell candy ice cream soda whatever. Give a teenager a summer job. Attract more bored teenagers because we all know they always are bored and got the munchies. Whats the problem with that?

"I brought it up because the city council could have expanded the club instead of making a pool that YMCA members will enjoy."
Just for the record, the Board of Directors of the YMCA is who decided to renovate the pool, not the city council. The city council had nothing to do with the decision. While I think there is one person who sits on both, he is but one vote on each.

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.
MY ORIGINAL POST WAS DELETED PROBABLY BY MOUSE

Message emailed to me by MOUSE 1323:
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 bea 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.

Oh and another thing. The person whose comments were deleted is NOT, in any way shape or form, associated with CARD or Karen Briarmoon. NOR am I! I just wanted to make sure we are clear on that.

Since when does a reader have the right to delete anothers comment just because he/she disagrees with the others opinion? If its not harrassment or threatening; if its not vulgar or offensive, then dont delete it. Every reader has the right to post their opinion. As far as Sheffers retirement, I dont really care because I just moved into this town two months ago.I believe yall need a responsible person to hold this position; and all I know is dont, please dont elect Briarmoon. She has got a screw loose Im pretty sure. So if you wana delete me then send me an email at yahoo and let me know what the deal is!!

I can't help but wonder if you all would be so nasty if you had to sign your name to your negative comments. I don't agree with everything that Mr. Sheiffer (and the Council) have done but no one can deny all of the good things he (and they) have accomplished for Janesville. The grass always look greener on the other side so be careful what you wish for because you just may get it.

I agree with shocky52. Just maybe we can think about something other then putting something in palmer park and craming it in. This is "The city of parks" not the "city of palmer park"

Or how about council members elected by district? Kind of like the county board but a smaller scale.

Now that the city manager is retiring, I believe it would be a good time to select a Mayor/Alderman type of government. The city councel doesn't always represent all the people, also some of them has businesses that is conflict of interest. Alderman would be elected to represent his ward, which is alot better for that section of the city. It always seems that the only area the city likes is the north/east side of Janesville. When has a big shopping center or big stores come to the southside of Janesville?.

PARTY TIME!!!!!!!

No one is going to agree all the time with any city official, or anyone else for that matter. Those who keep harping for "citizen input" forget that other "citizens" aren't likely to agree with them all the time either! And citizens elect the council members, who are themselves citizens. They just are citizens who don't happen to agree with the ones who keep complaining about everything. A new manager is very unlikely to make them happy, and they'll complain about the new one too and probably start harping, "Oh, if we only had Steve back!" In fact, you can probably count on it.

Rats! Does this mean we WON'T be getting a waterpark we don't need or sidewalks to nowhere?

PARTY TIME!!!!!!

He ran it so "lean" that this is why services such as Recreation, Parks, and other things are so poorly under budget and understaffed, And in such disrepair!

WoooooooooooooHoooooooooooo!!!! Hot Dog.........Dreams do come true!

I really doubt that the city manager does tax assessments. I don't know why the city manager deserves a raise every year when many others do not get one, but I guess it must be a seller's market. Many people have complained through the years about the city manager, but after he has retired and been replaced the very same people will probably long for the good old days when Steve Scheiffer was the city manager. You should also remember that the city council has something to do with the decisions that are made.

dcsnick1: Here is the mentatility of "why should they get it if I don't". The world is not equal. Find another job that will give increases, they are out there! I don't agree with all the choices he has made but Hockeyjockey was right, there has not been huge budget concerns! That in itself is big accomplishment.

Thank very much for all the hard work you have done. NOT!!!!!I like how he got a nice raise every year. I dont get a cost of living increase. Many others in this city dont so why should he.

Maybe he picked that date so you will beg him to stay. Please let him go. He treated people so bad with his tax assesments every year until the people revolted, his arrogants. We can do better. Thank goodness.

Unfortunately, I'm sure people will take advantage of this section to bash Sheiffer. While I didn't agree with his every move, overall he has been a very good city manager. He ran the city very lean so that we've been able to avoid the budget problems and loss of services that other communities have experienced. He has been a strong advocate of economic development. It will be hard to find another city manager that will be as effective.

Well that's good news!!!!! We will finally get rid of him. Hopefully something MUCH better will come along now.