Dear O’Fallon:
This letter serves as notice that I will be resigning my position as a citizen of O’Fallon, effective immediately.
No, seriously, I quit.
I just can’t take it any more. For years, I have watched this city receive accolade after accolade- safest city, best place to live, fastest growing- and every time we win an award it is quickly followed up by some sort of scandal. The scandals never come from regular citizens like me. Oh no, it is always our fine elected officials who screw everything up. I mean, just look at what is happening right now. Our former police chief Jerry Schulte, who we were told chose to retire early, just applied to replace… himself!
Why the sudden need to return to work? Because the city administrator, Bob Lowery Jr., has suddenly stopped coming in to work. Is there any indication from our elected officials as to what is really going on? Of course not. They obviously think that we, the citizens of O’Fallon, are truly stupid. Nobody over there wants to tell us where Bob Lowery is right now, or why his attorney is sending cease and desist letters to every member of the council. Was he fired? No comment. Administrative leave? Not sure. Well, somebody should check under his desk then. Maybe he’s been here the whole time and everything is going just dandy.
In regards to Schulte, can we admit now, finally, that he was fired? Of course not. He’s just reapplying to make a point they say. Yes, I get that. The point he is trying to make is that he was fired! It is not like all this started recently either. Remember when we got the piece of metal from 9/11 and this wonderfully patriotic city was so proud to display it? Even that great moment was tainted by drama when pieces of the memorial came up missing.
Here is what is really bothering me. I love O’Fallon. I love everything you are supposed to love about the city you live in. Great schools, nice homes, good neighbors, acceptable taxes, decent city services. Why can’t we get the whole package and actually have a city government who doesn’t treat all of us like morons?
But alas, it is not to be right now. I quit you, O’Fallon. I will consider renewing my citizenship in April after the election. But only if we vote out every member of the council who has claimed to be unsure of what is going on in the personnel department right now. The I will apply for my old job as citizen.
Sincerely, A concerned ex-citizen
