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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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Friday, August 7, 2009 9:56 PM CDT
NIU study late, but Mattoon ready to dig in

By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com

MATTOON — The Northern Illinois University Center for Governmental Studies report for the city is a week late, but city officials are ready for a good read sometime this month.

Mattoon Interim City Administrator John Kolata said he will first tackle a review of the study when it arrives. It was originally scheduled for release by July 31 under a $25,990 contract arranged earlier this year by the City Council for analysis of city operations and decision-making.

“My responsibility is to make a report to the council on what I see from the study,” said Kolata, who is currently reviewing the city’s personnel code. “The main thing I’m doing is making sure there are no differences between what the code says and what the NIU study is recommending.”

Mayor Dave Cline said the NIU governmental studies team indicated the study might be late, but indicated it should be released very soon, possibly within a week.

“Once we get it back, we’ll sit down and see what recommendations they have made. Some of them might be feasible, while others might be considered over a period of time,” Cline said.

Kolata said city department heads and other officials will be consulted before he completes his report to the city council.

“Everyone has to be involved in it,” said Kolata, whose interim contract covers 90 days. “This will be something I will concentrate on completing here.”

Some city officials hope it can offer recommendations that can improve government operations.

“It could give us guidance and directions to be considered,” said Mattoon City Commissioner Tim Gover.

But Cline cautioned the study is advisory, not mandatory. That is especially true after the city reduced the city work force in different ways to cut personnel costs.

“If it says we need X number of employees in a department then we’re not going to rush out and hire them right away. It might be a way of looking at where we should be headed,” Cline said.

Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.

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markmasse wrote on Aug 8, 2009 7:06 AM:

" Cline is correct, proceed with caution and just because it says do, use your common sense. "

Old Grumpy wrote on Aug 8, 2009 7:53 AM:

" Will there be copies of this study available for public review at the Library? If so will it be in the fiction or nonfiction area? LMAO "

yeah right wrote on Aug 8, 2009 3:16 PM:

" CLine---

Another words, if it says what you do not like, then we will think about it..and then stash it away like the other one...why waste the money on it, if you are not going to follow through with it.

?????????????

It is like having a map, but electing to just wing it..directions are only good if you will follow them. "

Rockin Rotty wrote on Aug 9, 2009 6:09 PM:

" "NIU study late, but Mattoon ready to dig in"

BOILER SLAG'EM! "