County Administrator Mel Ruppert announces retirement
April 3, 2012 at 4:44 am in Worthington Daily Globe
WORTHINGTON Longtime Nobles County Administrator Mel Ruppert has announced his intention to retire from his post, effective today.
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I can not believe they are keeping Ruppert on to help choose the next county administrator, are the nobles county commissioners brain dead.
VOTE THEM ALL OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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What a CROCK!! This is just a way for him to continue to control the commissioners and still run things without having to take the heat! I am sure the selection process for someone new will take quite some time and we will have to pay him the entire time. We the taxpayers are getting screwed!!! All of the commissioners are up for re-election this fall and we the people of Nobles County NEED to stand up and make our voices heard. This is not acceptable. I cannot believe these commissioners are that STUPID to go along with this! GET RID OF THEM ALL THIS FALL!! New campaign slogan for whomever is going to run! Nobles County is the laughing stock of the state of Minnesota and we will continue to be that until we make some changes around here. The commissioners never listen to their constituents-it is time to make your voices heard. Call your commissioners to let them know what a joke this is!
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He’s gone, let’s just be happy with that…you can bet the taxpayers are already paying him through his “Rule of 90′s”…He’s not in the office, he’s not overseeing anyone, he’s going to help educate the new person on policies, background information, etc. This is not an unreasonable request. You’re already paying him, you might as well get something for your money.
This is a good thing people. This is what was needed. I think keeping him on as a consultant will help to provide a smoother transition which will benefit the new County Administrator and those in the County Administrator’s office. He’s not in a position of power anymore, he may be able to influence, but he has no authority to dismiss or harass employees anymore.
I think the Board should be commended for this action. I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision, but ultimately, they heard the public outcry!!
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Mr Meyers
Yes it is a good thing Ruppert is gone but it is a bad thing and poor or no thinking on the commissioners part to allow a person like him to have a say in who they will hire next. This is not a good thing I can not beleive that you would say that it is, how would you like to have him come and help you out. Remember this is the man who ran you out of Nobles County.
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It seems to me that not everything Mel did was good and not everything he did was bad; however, most of what he did was “public”… I wonder how the rest of us would hold up under the same scrutiny. John 8:7
I am told his money management skills were above average. It’s unfortunate his “people” skills were well into the negative numbers.
Best thing now, would be for the Commission Chairman to escort him out of the building.
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I understand your concerns, but the article states “Ruppert will help the county transition to the next generation of leadership and ensure it has ample time to choose the right person for its next administrator.” No person (or board for this matter) would let a potentially disgruntled employee choose their successor. I do not believe that it is the board’s intention to have Mr. Ruppert on the selection or hiring committee.
I am sure they will contract this out to a professional recruiter who will meet with the board to identify their wants and needs, screen the candidates as they come in, conduct the preliminary screening and interviews, and bring three of four of the top candidates to meet the Board of Commissioners and members of the public.
I believe (and I hope) that Mr. Ruppert’s role will only be to meet with the new administrator to talk about policies, about the structure of the county departments, and to acquaint them with the department heads. During this time, Mr. Ruppert may be able to impart some “final thoughts” as he meets with this person but I believe any management professional would welcome the conversation but be smart enough to make up his own mind.
If I am wrong and it is the Board’s decision to have Mr. Ruppert be in the selection and hiring process, you will definitely hear from me again because nobody in their right mind should think that is a good idea.
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Here you are saying Mel is the problem. This is before the WHOLE truth came out and that Chairman Benson had agreed to paying Mel his $$$$$$. When did this change?
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“It seems to me that not everything Mel did was good and not everything he did was bad; however, most of what he did was “public”… “—— Where on earth did you ever get that idea? If it were done “public”, he would have been gone long ago. And as far as his “retirement”, he shouldn’t have been given that opportunity, and I sure as heck hope the counties taxpayers aren’t on the hook for his full $115,000.00 salary, (and what ever there is for other benefits he loaded into his contract!). Thanking him for his fiscal responsibility is a huge slap in the face to other department heads in the county that were denied much needed upgrades, etc. so he could have his huge privacy window and motion lights for his palace, wouldn’t want him to break a nail reaching over to flip on those pesky light switches.
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Dont forget his huge and massively expensive custom desk in a posh office with all the bells and whistles. Oh, but he deserved it.
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Here you are saying Mel is the problem. This is before the WHOLE truth came out and that Chairman Benson had agreed to paying Mel his $$$$$$. When did this change?
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Tune in next week for another episode of Nobles County.
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As happy as I (and much of Nobles county) am glad Mel is finally gone, I cant help but feel bad that the former EM Director Emily C. did not get the satisfaction of seeing Mel pack up his sh*t and leave! Its too bad he couldnt have “retired” a few months earlier so she would still have a job.
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