Letter to the Editor

Letter to the editor

Friday, April 7, 2006

Editor's note: The following is an open letter read during a meeting of the Nevada City Council on Tuesday, by outgoing councilmember Tim Moore, on election night, as he prepared to relinquish his seat on the council.


Mayor, Council, City Manager, City Staff, and Citizens of Nevada:

I wanted to take this time to thank you all for the support I have received over the last four years. As I announced back in November, my career with Wilkinson Pharmacy is progressing to a point that I needed to resign my council position. I have witnessed many great things in my four years. We have built a new Aquatics center, upgraded all park systems, paved countless miles of streets, including curb and gutters. We have replaced mile after mile of inadequate water and sewer lines. We have built a new Senior Center and are currently in the process of looking into a Civic Center and building a state-of-the-art airport complex. In addition, we have attracted new retail and industry, to the tune of several hundred new jobs.

I have had the privilege of working with two qualified city clerks, and the honor to be on the council during the appointment of a new police and fire chiefs. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the great council members whom I have worked with. Most notably, my good friend, Mike Straight, whom we lost last year. I miss Mike each day.

During that time, I have also seen some things that were disappointing as well. I have been sued over a meritless reason, seen a state audit disrupt the day-to-day city operations, not to mention cost the city well over $70,000 in funds and labor costs.

I and my city council counterparts have been slandered and strong-armed by a group that can only be described as ruthless and vigilante.

All this because we, as a council, believe in Nevada and are trying to make it the most progressive community that makes us want to raise our children here, and cause others on the outside to wonder what we have that they do not.

Even after these several disappointing things, I believed I had probably seen it all. Then came the night of March 22. One of our own council members decided on his own that the city charter held no merit and decided to have his own "meeting." He advised city staff, which according to Section 3.5(a) of the charter he has no right to do, to unlock the doors to the council chambers to have a "meeting" that had been canceled due to lack of a quorum. This would be like myself asking a police officer to give me the keys to the evidence locker. He then "appointed" someone to take minutes and proceeded to discuss sensitive issues, some of which are now in litigation. Even with this insubordination, I believe that the city of Nevada is still headed in the right direction.

My hope, as I leave the council, is that whomever is elected to lead this council, can ensure that the city charter is upheld in regards to matters such as these. Thank you again for the last four years.

Tim Moore

Nevada