City Manager Unfiltered

Latest Episodes:

Lessons From the Death of My Father with Joe Dessenberger | Ep. 124 Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

Joe Dessenberger grew up with a father who worked seven days a week until he died rather suddenly after a brief battle with cancer at the age of 62. His father had a vision of what his life would be like in retirement, but never got to enjoy it.

In this emotionally charged episode, we discuss the indelible influence of his father's journey through life and how that has shaped his mindset. Additionally, we discuss the sobering impact of his heart attack at the age of 51 and how these life experiences govern his thinking with respect to retirement and spending time with the people he loves most.

It is my belief that everyone who listens to this episode will gain something of value from it.

SHOW NOTES:

Joe Dessenberger's LinkedIn profile

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

AAME JOB BOARD:

The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Paul Sanftner Needs Your Help with His Brilliant Public Safety Idea | Ep. 123 Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

San Leandro Public Information Officer Paul Sanftner has a fantastic public safety idea that would help local government agencies during emergencies and save lives.

But he needs your help!

He is trying to persuade YouTube to add an emergency alert feature to their platform so that authorities can communicate important life-saving messages during natural disasters, civil disturbances, and other serious events that pose a danger to life and property.

Our emergency alert systems are a step behind the technological advances that have fragmented how news is disseminated and consumed. Please give this episode a listen and more importantly sign his letter of support and share it with other public sector executives.

SHOW NOTES:

Paul Sanftner's LinkedIn Profile

Sign on as a signatory to his letter of support here

Check Out Paul's YouTube Video where he talks about this "Super Commute"

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

AAME JOB BOARD:

The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Swingers Edition: Unhinged & Crazy in Rehoboth Beach | Ep. 122 Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

Rehoboth Beach Commissioner Suzanne Goode dropped 10 voicemail messages on her city manager in the span of 24 hours demanding that he edit or unpublish an official public meeting from their YouTube account.

Why?

Because another commissioner publicly shamed her for being toxic and abusive toward fellow commissioners and staff at a subcommittee meeting to discuss a Civility in the Workplace policy after she was outed for suggesting the city manager was they mayor's whore.

In these voicemail messages, which we share with you to listen for yourself, Goode argues she was slandered and defamed and suggests she may sue. That is -- when she is not getting cut off by the recording a la Jon Favreau's character in Swingers.

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

AAME JOB BOARD:

The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Star Wars, Tattoos & Community Engagement with Jeff Fiegenschuh | Ep. 121 Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

In this powerful episode, Jeff Fiegenschuh talks about his approach to community engagement, connecting with staff, and building relationships with his elected officials as the city manager for Rochelle, Illinois.

What prompted my desire to interview Jeff was the fact that he contributes a monthly column to his local paper and I believe most executives fail to take advantage of this effective technique to connect with residents, showcase the work of staff, and elevate the standing of their elected officials.

Jeff also sits down for regular interviews with the local radio station and encourages his staff to participate in interviews with the radio station, too.

While discussing his love for Star Wars, tattoos, and the Boston Red Sox, Jeff also touches on how important it is for public sector executives to have a life and an identity outside of work.

SHOW NOTES

Link to Jeff Fiegenschuh's LinkedIn profile

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

AAME JOB BOARD:

The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ep. 120 | It's Time to Rate & Review the Recruiters Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

In a couple of months, the American Association of Municipal Executives will be launching an online directory that will allow candidates to rate and review executive recruiters and recruitment firms. Under the current system, there is no mechanism or vehicle in place to give candidates a voice or to allow their concerns to be raised or addressed.

By creating this directory, the AAME will be able to communicate the concerns of its members to HR directors and elected officials as they go through the RFP process and help influence their decision making process. The ultimate goal is to help create a recruitment process that compels the recruiters to treat candidates better and punish those that do not give the candidates the respect and professional courtesy they deserve.

SHOW NOTES

Link to fundraiser and benefit auction Facebook page for Roxton, Texas city manager Janet Wheeler. Flyer includes QR code for Venmo donations being collected by Monica Helm or you can Venmo here: @monicahelm

Link to GiveSendGo fundraiser for Scott Whitaker's legal fund. He is the former town manager for Summerfield, North Carolina.

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

AAME JOB BOARD:

The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

City Manager Launches CityOrdinanceAI for Local Governments | Ep. 119 Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

Perry City Manager Nathan Read wanted to make it easier for residents to decipher the legalese of city ordinances and codes. So with the help of his best friend and business partner, they built CityOrdinanceAI and are now offering it up as a product for other city managers and local governments to purchase.

In this episode, we talk about his journey from Utah to Oklahoma to accept his first gig as a city manager, the role housing costs played in his decision, and the trials and tribulations of seeking to raise water rates by 70% during his first 18-months in the position.

If you are a government employee with a side hustle or project that you would like to share with my audience, please get in touch. I love using my platform to help others achieve their goals.

SHOW NOTES

Nathan Read's LinkedIn Page
CityOrdinanceAI.com
Perry, Oklahoma website

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Celebrating the Death of Baker Tilly - Now What? | Ep. 118 Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

On Friday, Baker Tilly Executive Recruitment announced they were going out of business. It was the culmination of two years worth of work highlighting their poor treatment of candidates and mediocre work product. It all started in July 2023 when I published my first podcast episode about the Canfield, Ohio search.
Just a few months earlier, Baker Tilly had purchased Management Partners out of Ohio and were seemingly expanding their dominance in the local government sector. Back then I had fewer than 500 followers and Baker Tilly appeared too big to fail and I was out of mind to even think of publicly criticizing one of the largest recruitment firms in the game.
While I am happy to have engineered their collapse -- now what?

SHOW NOTES

Previous episodes about Baker Tilly:
What the hell is going on in Canfield, Ohio? | Ep. 06
Who will hold Baker Tilly and other recruiters accountable? | Ep. 09
Baker Tilly Hides Dirty Secret from Hutchinson City Manager Candidates
Baker Tilly Gets Embarrassed in Deltona, Florida | Ep. 25

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

BREAKING: Horrific Details in PFA Issued Against La Marque Councilman Joseph Lowry | Ep. 117 Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

Some shocking details concerning La Marque Councilman Joseph Lowry surfaced this week. Hayley Winkelmann is leading the effort to recall the controversial official and she shared some court records with the podcast.

On July 24th, Lowry's ex-wife obtained a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order in the State of Washington. The court found her claims credible and they are horrific. Additionally, Winkelmann located official documents indicating that Lowry may be ineligible to hold office because he has multiple felony convictions.

You can find links to these documents in the show notes below.

SHOW NOTES

Link to Hayley Winkelmann's Facebook Page
Link to her Recall Joseph Lowry Facebook page
Protection Order (Domestic Violence) Against Joseph Lowry
Joseph Lowry's Candidate for Public Office Form
Mention of Joseph Lowry's 1997 Felony Theft Conviction

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Arson, Stolen Valor, and an Arrest in La Marque with Reporter TJ Aulds | Ep. 116 Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

Authorities arrested the former city manager for La Marque, Texas on Saturday. A warrant for the arrest of J.B. Pritchett had been issued about a week prior on charges related to felony arson and tampering with evidence and misdemeanor charges related to allegedly lying about his education and military service on his job applications and resume.

In this episode, i45Now reporter T.J. Aulds discusses what he has found during his investigative reporting on the matter, including an examination of Pritchett's resumes and applications, as well as a detailed breakdown of the probable cause affidavits submitted by authorities.

Pritchett has been released on a $90,000 bond and is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

SHOW NOTES

TJ Aulds' LinkedIn Profile
i45Now Facebook Page

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What is going on in La Marque with Reporter TJ Aulds | Ep. 115 Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

This week a warrant was issued for the arrest of former La Marque city manager, J.B. Pritchett. He is facing five charges, of which two are felonies.

How in the hell did we get here?

To an outsider, the small Texas town of La Marque seems like a chaotic, toxic mess. Many people point their fingers at a councilman by the name of Joseph Lowry who has a brash, combative, and in your face style that rubs many the wrong way. Originally from the state of Washington where he served time in prison for distribution of methamphetamines, and fancies himself a "citizen journalist."

He filed a complaint with his police department about Pritchett, accusing him of lying on his application about his education and military service.

In this episode, i45Now reporter T.J. Aulds breaks down the backstory and Lowry's history. Next week, we will delve into the specific issues surrounding the charges facing Pritchett.

SHOW NOTES

TJ Aulds' LinkedIn Profile
i45Now Facebook Page

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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