by DL-Online
Jack Ingstad gets offer from county
August 17, 2012 at 11:06 am in DL-Online
Becker County commissioners have offered the county administrator’s position to Jack Ingstad, who served in the role in good times and bad in Colorado and California, worked as an attorney and TV journalist in North Dakota, and served in the North Dakota State Legislature Continue Reading
Well, it finally looks like the County has identified a candidate for County Administrator that will carry on the work of the former County Administrator calling for accountability of Department Heads and sound fiscal management and exemplifying the true meaning of being a “public servant”. Finally, we have someone who can measure up to our former County Administrator.
Jack Ingstad, like Tom Mortenson stands for open government and in his own words wants county government to “be very transparent, open to the media, to community members” which is exactly what the County Board’s resistance to these ideas and the concept of fairness that brought out the unheard of community outrage from every political corner and area of the county over the dismissal of Mr. Mortenson who was a reformer just like Mr. Ingstad appears to be.
Good government begins with good people who are willing to serve and it sounds like we have found another such person in Jack Ingstad. Hopefully, the county will reach a written agreement to provide him the leverage to conduct county business the way it should be done. No more back room deals, the County needs to put in writing what they expect and what he will be rated on. We saw the result when the County couldn’t do this last time and never even used the County Administrator job description when they forced Mr. Mortenson out – just because he exceeded all the written requirements they decided not to use this when the gang of three forced him out. We cannot allow this to happen again.
I find it interesting how both men have served as elected officials, and while Ingstad was a TV reporter, Mortenson was a public affairs officer for two Secretaries of Defense. Each of them has extensive governmental experience and stand on principle. Both are men of integrity and give us straight answers. They both understand how to save the taxpayer money and examine the tough questions when it comes to government spending. They both are brilliant and have outstanding educational and professional credentials.
I understand that like Mr. Mortenson, who took a $25,000 per year pay cut, and took no per diem or expenses while serving the people, Mr. Ingstad will have to take a pay cut from his present position as well if he decides to take the job.
From news reports, Mortenson was paid a starting pay of around $88,500 and was given a pay raise a week before two Commissioners demanded he resign. Of course we all know about the back room dealings of how Barry and Larry executed that injustice and forced him out with the help of Don. I pray that Mr. Ingstad will not suffer the same fate.
I will watch with interest to see how much more we will pay to right the wrong done by the County Board. After all, we went and had one search that produced three excellent candidates, including our Auditor Treasurer, but I guess none of these fine men would satisfy the requirement to be a “yes” man, so off the county went – spent more money on an outside firm because they couldn’t or won’t do the job themselves. (Wonder why we keep re-electing them if they can’t make decisions on their own?)
How much did this latest search cost us? Why is there no disclosure on this? More backroom dealings?
It will be interesting to see how much taxpayer money the County will spend this time in trying to get another effective County Administrator like they had.
This is especially interesting in that Mr. Mortenson was the only County Administrator in the last twelve years to actually live here in the County. Guess no one in the County could ever measure up to what the Board wants – doesn’t that tell us what they really think of all of us.
Knowing that at any time that three of the Commissioners feel like it he can be fired, or that the Department Heads who are afraid of adult leadership can convince the Board that he is demanding that they be held accountable can have his job gone in a heartbeat speaks volumes on his dedication. I hope he knows that he can be gone at anytime, any day and with this Board or the Department Heads who have a voice in his selection could be gonee in any hour they take a fancy to have him out. I’m sure he is used to Department Heads who can’t perform to any performance standard and will find them crying to their Commissioners to get rid of him just like the last guy. We all know how they went and cried last time when they were being held responsible. And we heard from them again when it looked like Ryan was going to be the next County Administrator.
I only hope that the County Board will have the strength to support him as he follows his predecessor’s legacy because that’s what this county needs and we the public want and demand from our government.
Noted for being “demanding on staff” and a leader not a manager, Mr. Ingstad will be a breath of fresh air following the year of shame and disgrace that followed what the Board has done and continues to do, i.e., not providing leadership and vision.
Like or Dislike:
11 
7
When Jack Ingstad was in Plumas County it was nothing but BAD times. Good Luck to your county.
Like or Dislike:
3 
3