City Needs A Town Manager
By Mike Bibb
Wow, Silver City's search for a new city manager sounds remarkably similar to Safford, Arizona's recent uproar — "Silver City council discussed town manager search and event-permit process," The Beat, Sept. 11, 2026.
And, probably other city manager stories.
The Wizard of Id comic — absent "City Manager" comment — perfectly nailed the current situation.
In Safford's case, the city council abruptly fired the preceding City Manager toward the end of last year and temporarily installed the Assistant City Manager.
Of special interest, the terminated city manager was let go "without cause" by awarding him a $190,000 check (a year's salary), plus medical benefits, and a departing "Have a nice day."
His replacement, selected after the usual required "search," the former Assistant City Manager now occupies the top job at an annual salary of $180,000, plus various benefits.
The new manager's salary may have been reduced $10,000, but still not bad wages ($15,000 monthly/$3461 weekly) for administering the daily chores of a small community. Similar to Silver City, Safford's population is about 10,000.
Leading up to dismissal of the previous city manager were several controversial issues, including the installation of about 30 "Flock cameras" throughout the community.
Apparently, these "license plate reading instruments" were approved a couple of years ago by the former city manager without the okay of the city council.
Which, itself, is strange. I'm still wondering how, and why, that lapse of oversight happened, or in what manner the city manager slipped it past the council?
Until recently, the cameras weren't a major concern because most folks hadn't realized they were present. Thinking, perhaps, the black, solar powered contraptions were just another city installed utility device.
Increasing local scrutiny of Flock cameras became a topic of interest when numerous Safford residents protested before a city council meeting and voiced concern over violation of constitutional and civil rights because the machines record everything and everyone who passes within view of the camera's lens.
Also, the fact that placement of the gadgets was not well advertised.
There's probably a reason for the secrecy, but that's another topic for another time.
While a growing segment of the public may be upset with Flock cameras, many police departments have differing views. Insisting they help in locating and identifying "Persons of interest," and suspicious vehicles.
Currently, a few thousand communities use them. In spite of this, their popularity is waning as more people become disenchanted and concerned with questionable lawful applications.
Not certain if Silver City presently uses Flock cameras, or if it's an issue. The purpose of this opinion piece is to express similarities of Safford's City Manager selection, and Silver's.
Primary among these is honesty and mutual communication between the city manager, city council, city residents and local media.
Otherwise, we might end up with a Wizard of Id "Modernized Monopoly Game."
Which, as the King remarked, "Kinda Sucks"!!!
