5:03 PM Next Tuesday A Very Important Day In Growth And Success of the City of Dothan

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 1777

Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
3347901729
Date: Apr 09 2024 5:04 PM

DOTHAN:     On the agenda for Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba and the Associate Commissioners for the City of Dothan will be the contract for Dothan City Manager Kevin Cowper.

Kevin Cowper was originally hired as Dothan City Manager in March 2019. Cowper came to Dothan from Auburn Alabama where he served as Assistant City Manager. Beginning with a two year contract in 2019, Mayor Saliba and Associate Commissioners gave a new contract to Kevin Cowper in April 2021. That contract expires April 30, 2024.

There has been a lot of underground discussions between the City of Dothan Associate Commissioners. That discussion was more than likely in violation of the Alabama OPen Meetings law. The law, which demands a fine to be paid personally by the people in the meeting, of up to $ 1,000.00 each, individually. The City of Dothan can not represent the Associate Commissioners or pay the fine.

According to the underground discussions and underground votes tallied by the Associate Commissioners, there may not be enough votes to renew the contract for Dothan City Manager Kevin Cowper.

The item is on the agenda for Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 10:00 AM in the Dothan City Commission Chambers.

KEVIN COWPER CAME AT TIME FOR FRESH VISION FOR THE CITY OF DOTHAN 

When Kevin Cowper arrived in Dothan it was a time for a fresh vision for many much needed projects. Much needed projects which would improve and deliver Dothan's core services to its citizens, focused infrastructure improvements and expansion, economic development coordination, and overall neighborhood revitalization and community re-investment.

Early in Kevin Cowper's tenure, he envisioned and implemented LoveDothan!, The citywude strategy and forward thinking galvanized the support and energy from various stakeholders within the community to vision Dothan as a place where citizens find value in services that are provided by its goverment and to send a unifying message that Dothan is a great place to live, do business, and to raise a family.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE 

As with anyone there has been positive and negative occurances in the City of Dothan. A employee of the City of Dothan Leisure Services was accused of bid sharing in the food program. That 23 year plus employee was terminated. Then Dothan City Attorney Len White, who was on his way out as Dothan City Attorney, fumbled the case when presented to the Dothan Personnel Board. When the case went up to the appeals court the decision of the Dothan Personnel Board was reversed and the employee returned to work.

The case presentation was out of character for Dothan City Attorney Len White. And some speculate that Len White did not care. That employee returned to work by court order.

Was that Dothan City Manager Kevin Cowper's fault? Well some point the blame to him but out of 1,000 employees in the City of Dothan, it begs to question can the City Manager keep his thumb on every move of 1,000 plus employees?

Dothan IT Director Jack Mason was hired by former Dothan City Manager Mike West. RSN told Mayor Saliba that Mason could not handle the job. But because Rickey Stokes said it, the message was discounted. In the end the City of Dothan realized that Stokes was not as stupid as they originally thought. And Mason departed his employment with the City of Dothan. But not before he wasted a lot of money on software that would not work. Yes, Dothan City Manager is responsible for the day to day operations, but, he trusted the hire of the former Dothan City Manager.

BUT ON A GOOD NOTE 

Dothan Police Chief Steve Parrish retired. Dothan City Manager Kevin Cowper hired Will Benny as Dothan Police Chief. This past March Will Benny has started his fourth year as Dothan's Top Cop. 

Chief Benny has done a great job during his tenure. He was worked to improve the performance of the Dothan Police Department, the pay in the police department, and equipment of the Dothan Police Department. Chief Benny initiated a State of Alabama Police Academy at the Wiregrass Training Center to train the law enforcement officers locally.

Dothan City Manager Kevin Cowper hired Clay Dempsey as Director of Performing Arts. This is the department which manages the Dothan Civic Center and Dothan Opera House. Since Clay Dempsey has come on board the entertainment within the Dothan Civic Center has improved and some great entertainment has been held at the Dothan Civic Center.

DOWNTOWN DOTHAN  

Over a couple of decades downtown Dothan had deterioated to a disaster. Under several Mayors steps have been made to make downtown Dothan as a destination. 

When Kevin Cowper served as Assistant City Manager in Auburn he was tasked with downtown redevelopment and growth management in Auburn. Since hitting the ground in Dothan in 2019, as City Manager Kevin Cowper has worked to implement those ideas and more to make OUR DOWNTOWN Dothan a destination. A place we, as people who grew up in Dothan, will be proud of and pass onto our children and grandchildren. And of you ride through downtown a lot of work. And if you look at the plans, when completed it will be awesome.

And Dothan City Manager Kevin Cowper and the team has $ 61 MILLION DOLLARS pledged for this project which are not City of Dothan taxpayer dollars.

Will the project die if Kevin Cowper is not given a new contract? Probably not, but it will be set back a long way. And in speaking with the movers and shahers working on the project, they will be very disappointed and perhaps decide to go fishing and forget it.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?   

The City Manager of Dothan is responsible for all 1,000 plus employees of the City of Dothan. There is an Assistant City Manager, Randy Morris who does a great job. And there are department heads. But it is impossible for them to have their finger on each and every employee in the City of Dothan.

The Mayor and Commissioners, it is their job to meet with the City Manager and have constant dialogue with the City Manager. One Dothan Commissioner refuses to meet with the City Manager because he personally does not like him. That Commissioner is not fulfilling his duties as a Commissioner in a working relationship to move Dothan forward. How can that Commissioner serve his district as he should but never meet with the City Manager.

Dothan Associate Commissioner D6 David Crutchfield, as I understand meets with the City Manager each month. Commissioner Crutchfield has not told me that but my investigation has revealed that. And D6 Associate Commissioner David Crutchfield, as RSN understands supports giving Kevin Cowper a new contract.

TUESDAY 

This next Tuesday is an important day in the growth and continued success of the City of Dothan.

As someone who has seen Dothan City Managers; Dale Cunningham 1978 - 1986; Don Marnon 1987 - 1994; Alfred Saliba, as Mayor, served as City Manager July 1994 to February 1995; Jerry Gwaltney 1995 - February 2000; Shelton Smith July 2000 - July 2002; Dennis Rubin July 2002 - November 2003; Jerry Corbin Acting City Manager from December 2003 - October 2004; Mike West November 2004 - December 31, 2018, and  then contract City Manager for several months and serving in association with several  department heads. Kevin Cowper April 29, 2019 to present.

With the movement in the City of Dothan and some spectacular things going on, many citizens feel that it is important that Kevin Cowper remain as Dothan City Manager. Many movers and shakers responsible for a lot of Dothan's growth over the years feel that it is in the best interest of the City of Dothan that Kevin Cowper remain as City Manager. To see the growth and plans to make Dothan a spectacular place.

And if the Associate Commissioners do not know what is going on, SHAME ON THEM. It means they are not engaged as they should be. And some have some personal agenda's on several fronts of which blur the lines.

Call your Mayor and Commissioners and express your feelings. RSN has not had a history of working for a City Manager to have a  new contract. But in some tests I have placed before Dothan City Manager Kevin Cowper, he has passed those tests in transparency and honesty.

Kevin Cowper, more important the people of Dothan Alabama, deserve the continued leadership of Kevin Cowper as City Manager.

CLICK FOR LINK TO CONTACT INFORMATION FOR DOTHAN MAYOR AND ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONERS

City Manager Kevin Cowper - Highlights by Rickey Stokes on Scribd

Dothan City Commission by Rickey Stokes on Scribd

Dothan City Commission by Rickey Stokes on Scribd

<- back