Goodbye Hello

In his farewell manager’s report to the mayor and city council, 

John Archocosky wrote: 

“The title ‘City Manager’ is an overstatement as it 

suggests that the individual in that position is in 

control. In reality however, that’s seldom the case. 

The City Manager is there only to follow the direction 

of the Council and the individuals that elect them to 

office.” 

Theoretically that’s correct, however in the case of Iron River, 

that has not been the active model. Since my arrival, in most 

cases the city manager simply ran away with decisions and the 

city council has been no more than a rubber stamp providing 

approval. 

Will that now change? Is this past behavior significantly ingrained 

in the local culture? The stronger a city manager that is hired, the 

more likely such practices will continue. 

“Much of what occurs in small towns like this is the 

mirrored reflection of its ‘citizens’. Citizens have the 

ability to affect every major and minor decision that is 

made on their behalf. The catch however, is that they 

have to show up, speak up, and participate in their city’s 

government. From time to time, decisions are made 

which may reflect the wishes of only a small group who 

let their feelings be known. As Council members and 

staff, we need to be mindful that we are here to serve 

the entire community and all decisions must be made 

which will benefit the majority. I’m pleased to say that 

every Council that I have worked for has demonstrated 

that ability.” 

Here again, nice in theory, but absent in practice. More on this in 

future articles. One needs to read Archocosky's statements for what 

are called “hedges.” That is to say, statements carrying meaning not 

immediately obvious to the casual reader. Archocosky’s writings are 

rife with such things as, “has demonstrated that ability.” 

Really? They demonstrated that ability? How so? If they had 

“exhibited” that ability wouldn’t the writer, who is clever with words, 

simply said so? By writing, as he did, “demonstrated that ability” the 

author has placated his intended, dare I say it, victims, and mislead 

them into a sense of complacency for his future intentions, whatever 

those are. 

This is called "critical reading."

When I was a young man, the local lumberyard and builder supply firm 

was in trouble because of infighting by family members after the death 

of one of its two founders. A salesman who had worked for the firm 

for a couple of decades quit them and opened a hardware and builder’s 

supply right across the street. Because he knew how his former employer 

made business decisions, and the entire customer base, he was able to 

make short work of putting them completely out of business, and 

subsequently purchased his former employer’s property, soon moving 

his operation back to where he began. 

This is the model of seeing an opportunity and taking the risk to one’s 

personal advantage. This is the underbelly of the “free market.” Wherever 

there is a weakness, someone is usually ready and able to take advantage 

of the situation. 

The present experience in Iron River and this county will doubtless exhibit 

a similar game plan. John Archocosky now knows all the political players, 

their strengths and weaknesses, and with great precision, how decisions 

are made at both the municipal as well as state levels. In keeping with the 

history your humble correspondent has watched unfold over the past 8 

years, he will maximize the benefit of this knowledge for himself. 

Don’t forget what he wrote, “As you know, this will be the last Regular 

City Meeting that I will be attending as the City Manager of Iron River.” 

Like MacArthur, he’ll be back. No, he won’t be the city manager, but 

he’ll have advantages of knowledge that a newly arrived city manager 

won’t. John Archocosky is changing his hat, nothing more. And it is to be 

expected that the city council, and others, will listen and obey as they have 

become accustomed to do. 

Bill Vajk