September 27, 2024 • 33 mins
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
That's the big debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump,
the question of the Haitian migrants who have been given
a temporary amnesty it's called and dumped into the town
of Springfield.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
This is not in debate.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Sixty thousand person town, twenty thousand people dumped there. That's
a lot on a city. And Donald Trump has been
citing the fact that the locals say that cats and
dogs are being eaten, and so it became a big
part of the debate that David Muir said, well, we
called the city manager and the city manager said it
(00:41):
wasn't true. And it turns out that's not true. They
have been getting complaints. But we were talking about city
managers in the mix and that that seemed like an
interesting job to have. Some of you will remember Matt
Patrick's wife was the city manager, or at least assistant
(01:03):
city manager of one of the outlying towns, and I
always thought that would be kind of a fun thing
to do, right, to oversee a city. You're not up
for election, and if you really care about efficiency and
service and the delivery of services and the operation of
the functions of government, I want a small government and
(01:24):
I want a localized government, but I want.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
A good government.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I always thought that'd be a really cool thing to do.
So our guest is Courtney Slatick. Hopefully I'm pronouncing that correctly.
That's what I was told the city manager of Elkempo. Courtney,
Did I get your name right?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Close enough? All right? You say it. I've been called
all kinds of things.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
So i'll take that.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
One's Courtney slat oh slatik.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Well, I hate to drop somebody in the bus under
the bus, under the but somebody pronounced it for me,
and as usual, he got it wrong. So first of all,
for people who don't know where El Campo is, we
thought that was the perfect size place and a perfect
(02:09):
kind of place.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Is that where Greek Brothers is? Are they in Wharton?
Speaker 3 (02:13):
That's right? You know we're it's in El Campo. We're
an hour southwest of Houston.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Okay, so take me there.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
If I'm leaving downtown and I'm on fifty nine, okay.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
They just stay on fifty nine.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Well, hold on, I'm hugged three times, I've been carjacked twice,
and I'm not even to six', ten, Right, okay So
i'm going to stay on. THERE i want to see
are you from this?
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Area, no not, originally But i've been IN lqba eighteen,
years so maybe all.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Right we'll go with.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
That WHEN i get To highway, SIX i want you
to tell. ME i want you to just kind of
quote the Streets i'm going to pass on my way
To El.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Passo let me Tell.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Campo, yeah not until it takes you a lot longer
to see me streets or. CITIES i think it's probably you.
Here if, yeah you pass through Sugar, Land, Richmond, Rosenberg. Kendleton,
uh there's a little town Called beasley somewhere in, between
(03:11):
and then you go To orton and we're the next.
Town we're account of about thirteen thousand.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
People people call It kendleton Because i've always Heard kenleton
as if there's not a D i know there, IS i.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
DON'T i don't know.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
What does it pay well to be a safe? MANAGER
i knew this was.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Coming, yeah Well i'm familiar with the. Show, uh so,
yes it. Can it depends on where you, go and
obviously the public has a lot to say about. That
if you Ask Al campo residents how MUCH i, made
some might say too. Much and IF i called my
peers and city. Government they would say not. ENOUGH i
(03:52):
would just we put we publish. It it's on our
it's on our website Under city Of El. Campo we
publish how MUCH i make every. Year it is public.
INFORMATION i think cities have a responsibility to say what
they do with their, money with the citizens'. Money we
have to be. Accountable i'm not seeing that as much
in these mission statements on seeing is, diversity, equity inclusion
(04:13):
and not a lot of, accountability, transparency. Responsibility more of
that needs to be out. There and so to your
point on the city manager being called out regarding The
haitian migrants and responsibility to answer that question, honestly apolitically
and make sure that information is out, THERE i think
(04:35):
we're missing the mark sometimes on. THAT a lot of
city managers are trying to do, that BUT i THINK
i think sometimes people get caught up in the politics and,
unfortunately uh that that suffers because of.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
It ramon, said he looked it up and you make six,
hundred which is a lot more THAN i.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Expected that's really. Good, Thanks.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Michael you're giving me some great.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Favorite that's what happens when you don't answer the question
we fill in with our.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Own.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Okay it says that you you served as the budget
manager for the city Of, friendswood budget measure for the
city Of College, station and budget analysts for the state Of.
Texas so let's go through how you end up the
city manager of the city Of El.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Campo where were you?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Born College?
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Station College? Station all? Right and where'd you go to high?
Speaker 3 (05:23):
School am? Consolidated and then you went.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
TO a AND m where you got a bachelor's of
in political. Science what was YOUR?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Gpa AM i on a job?
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Interview, well, no you're on a life, Interview. Courtney we're holding,
You we're putting you up on a. Pedestal we just
want to.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
See if you're. Worthy. Hey, look to be honest.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
With, you it would be just as fine with me
if you barely, passed because it's more, inspiring.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Is.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
It?
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Oh my FINAL gpa was a three. Two BUT i
did go to graduate school TO i have to we're
getting to.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
That we're getting to.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
THAT i feel like you underperformed and didn't put your
full effort into.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
It that's fair. ENOUGH i was in.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
College, yeah that's.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
True master Of arts And Political science from Sam Houston State.
University And master Of Business ADMINISTRATION nba from The university
Of texas At. Tyler and then what was your first job.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Budget analysts with the city Of College.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Station and how did you like?
Speaker 3 (06:21):
THAT i loved, it BUT i was. YOUNG i had
a lot to, learn and we were blessed to have
a and m in our, backyard which meant there was continuous.
Growth we had more money than we knew what to do. With,
yeah you, know so we were literally giving money to
arts and things like. That so first out of that
(06:43):
police department. Budget so now you know WHERE i stand
on police for the rest of my. Career, obviously huge
supporter of, them and because that really shapes, you you,
know fundamentally who you, are and so that that was
a big. Motive they didn't put me over, park thank.
God SO i started out with police AND i worked
at The city Of collegation for five. Years husband moved
(07:06):
me To. Austin we lived there for not quite a.
YEAR i HAD i don't want to get. POLITICAL i
worked for the Say i'll offer you this the second
day as a budget analyst in The Texas Education. Agency
Governor perry vetoed the. Budget so the experience there was
(07:27):
was so different at the, state so different than at
the local. LEVEL i know you know, This, yes it
was so good to get out of. There AND i
went to work For friendswood because as an AGG i
couldn't read a map and drove quite a commute From
wharton To friendswood for seven or eight. Months Then i've
(07:49):
been With El campo eighteen.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Years hold on this.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Moment Courtney slottick is the city manager Of El campo
and our guest coming upon you like her so?
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Far we? Do, okay everybody needs to be woke.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
If courtney slotok is our. Guest she is the city
manager of Elp, campo and with the city manager in
the news In, Springfield, ohio we wanted a city manager
because we kind of find it, fascinating you, know if
you talk, about as we often, do that government ought
to be more.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Local you.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Know that was the point of the Original confederacy of
states that were brought together as The United states in
one federal. System was the idea that the states didn't
want to give up their. Identity South carolina was very
different From pennsylvania And New York virginia, particularly and the
states did not want to give up their sovereignty and
(08:46):
decision making and policies and culture to the very powerful
early on state Of virginia and as well As New
york And. Pennsylvania they wanted to retain their own. Independence
so as That United states was, formed you will notice
that The constitution is a document that restricts the powers
of government instead of providing powers of government and The
(09:07):
bill Of, rights it protects the individual against. Government SO
i love the idea of localized, government the state instead
of the, federal the local instead of the, state and
a well run community is a real. PLEASURE i mean
it is our small, towns, unfortunately and you're seeing this
all Over you've see this In, Belleville you're seeing this In,
waco you're seeing this In, brenham where there's this just
(09:31):
explosion of people getting out of The houstons and The
dallases because the big cities have gone to hell and
they're moving into these. Towns, unfortunately a lot of times
they're bringing the problems with them that they were fleeing
without even realizing. It See california come To texas as
the same. Theory Courtney slotick is our guest city manager
Of El. Campo All, right we've.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Worked through what she.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Makes let me figure out her husband's bank and big.
Money you live In.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Wharton Or El? CAMPO i live In El.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Campo how many police officers Does Civel campbell?
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Have our total police staff is forty. Four but that's
this girls on top of.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
It that's the old. Budget that's the old. Budget analyst
size of. Her she knows how many.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Firefighters, no we.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Don't we don't have that. MANY i mean that commissioned
and obviously some of our positions that that our civilian.
Positions that includes our chief he's not a, civilian but
our secretary that works, there as well as our animal
control officers and our school resource. Officers, so but public
safeties obviously early on in my, career that's how we
(10:37):
started to continue to be a priority for me and
for the.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Council ramon wants to know if we can ride along
with the dog. Catcher we've done a lot of police right.
Along we want we want to ride.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Along with the. Doctor you want? To we, Could we
could set that. UP i bet y'all got.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Some little bitty stuff that we never even thought about
doing a ride along.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
ON i bet y'all got some stuff we.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
PROBABLY i mean some things come to. Mind yet probably
in a small. Town that's that's how that usually.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Works how many?
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Firefighters which how many how many uh uh classified employees.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Do you have in the fire. Department it's a. Volunteer, oh, volunteer,
okay all?
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Right and, yeah do you do you allocate anything in
your budget to?
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Them a little over two hundred thousand dollars a year
and like. Much but we're. Small there's a whole host of.
Things we pay for their medical, exams we pay for their,
retirement we pay for their workers' comp for their, chemicals
for their. Uniforms we also last year we boughtom a
one point seven million dollar ladder.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Truck they would vot to approves.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Voters uh, yeah, yeah people like that and they approve
things like that and. Bondishuances so, uh that's how we
work with. THEM i get the privilege of serving on
their pension.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Board.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Uh but their volunteers are ems in how we have
Fourteen we have a total of fourteen in our enos.
Department that's paramedics plus a director and a.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Director so how many how many residents do you have
in the city Of El?
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Campo what? Twelve?
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Six hundred and, fifty BUT i don't think that. COUNTS
i put it closer to. Thirteen but our growth rate
is really.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Small that's how it orange.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Was oh, OKAY i didn't know if you were alluding
to the town or the fruit like this. LUNCHTIME i
understand how.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Many total employees of the city, overall including classified, police, fire,
well POLICE emt and all, that one.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Hundred and twenty.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Four oh that's pretty.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Lean thank. You please tell my residence that, no, yeah
we don't outsource a. Lot so of course that number
can look differently unless you can textualize. It it's really
hard to understand how many people you. Need you, know
what do we actually? Do meaning you, know we've this
(13:10):
budget cycle has been kind of kind of fun this,
year and one of the statements with out there, was,
well you've added a bunch of, positions but we need
to qualify. That the state Of texas said we have
to have a police officer and every, school so we did,
that and that means adding, personnel, Right and we've taken
services that were provided by contractors that decided to sell
(13:31):
their company to another company out of, state and we
said that's not going to. Work so we're going to
provide ic and house and so that number has grown
quite a bit over the last eighteen. Years BUT i
still think every decision and every position has to be
approved by, counsel and so we list them all on
the budget. Document and LIKE i told you exactly how
(13:53):
much we fail.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Now, honestly why she makes six hundred thousand dollars a.
Year she's. Good this girl is on top of.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
IT i like.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
It do you have? KIDS i have? One why do
you say like? That she said, KIDS i just have the.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
One we have a sixteen year old daughter that's actively
applying for college right.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Now IF i were to, ask what's your daughter's, Name,
Tara kara with the C.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Tara with a, Tea.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Tara T IF i were to Ask tara what her mom,
does how closely could she approximate what you actually?
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Do, OH i think she's nail. IT i do because
she used to sit in on council meetings because she was,
interested and she's taking ap, government so she kind of
she kind of has figured it. OUT i went at
a very young, AGE i kind of explained what city
management versus the, policymakers what they.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Do what did your parents? Do what do your parents
do my?
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Mom my mom is a teacher or was a. Teacher she's,
definitely she's. Retired and my father was in project management.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Construction is he still.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
You?
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Know and your mother lives.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Where richmond and Del Web, oh, yeah she like. IT
i loved it. There it's a great. Community.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
YEAH i hear good things about about that. Community i've.
Known in, Fact i've heard from from folks that live
there that listen to the. SHOW i figured you had
some public service in your. FAMILY i got that sense
from your values in your. Life of, Course, NO i,
Did and So i'm not surprised that your mother was a,
teacher father was a.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Veteran, NO i wouldn't have surprised.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Me.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Yeah so IF i were to IF i were to ask,
residents all kidding, aside if there is something that people
would criticize you, about what would it? Be doesn't mean
you're necessarily wrong for?
Speaker 3 (15:52):
It is this like the interview question where you say
what's your great weakness and they say, Yeah and.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
When people can't give me the greatest, weakness that's always
what it's.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Like, no there's you, know, no, no no city manager is.
PERFECT i, Think, uh sometimes our messaging can be. Better.
Uh we need to we need to be out there
with our citizens. More we need to be more. Visible
we need to do a better job of. Communicating i'm
(16:24):
on our local, radio uh every other week trying to
get our message out and uh in the. Newspaper BUT
i think sometimes we get caught up in government and
we we we assume everyone knows what we know and,
uh we're not able to articulate that vision because we
Were So i've never worked with the private, sector so,
(16:46):
Uh i've only been the public sector my entire. Life
SO i think we lose sight of how how that
looks for people that are in the private. Sector and
SO i would, say you, know if there's if there's
a weakness on my, side a couple of. Things the first,
IS i DON'T i don't necessarily run the city like
a budget like a. Business there there's pros and cons
to that Because i've because of the inherentness of working
(17:10):
only in local government my whull. Career but the other
side is we we don't do there There there can
be there can be times WHEN i think we've got
in our head that it has to be a certain,
way and, uh it takes us a while to get,
things to get to the other, uh to get to
(17:33):
the more business minded. Ideas MAYBE i don't know how
to word that.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Better courtney sladek is the city manager of the City
Ville Passo more with.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Her Com.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Michael Bailey.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Show DID i Say El? Paso i'm, Sorry ramon, SAID
i went to break Saying El. PASO i Meant El.
Campo it's the same thing it. Did El paso And El.
Campo you can actually say them. Interchangeably they're the same.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Town, yeah they're.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Interchangeable, Now, yes that's okay because we get mail From
El paso all the. Time, yeah we Really after.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
The city manager Of, Springfield ohio was in the, news
we wanted the city manager of our Own and Now
campo has a reputation as being a well run.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
City you, know, FOLKS i got to tell, you.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Being the mayor pro tem of The city Of houston
opened my eyes to something and my nose and my
ears to something that was a screeching sound and a foul.
Smell how big city governments run is. Awful the amount of,
fraud the amount of, waste the amount of, inefficiency the
dereliction of, duty the people who are overpaid and underperforming
(18:36):
the number of people who don't show up to work
for long periods of, time the amount of theft in.
Government it's a morass of. Evil it's, horrible and that's
why nothing can get. Done it's why the city services
are so poorly. Done and you see good people that
sign up to serve in the police department or the fire,
department or public works or any other and you feel
(18:59):
bad for them because they're in a situation that is
like A kafka, movie A kofka a, book and it's,
tragic it's. Sad but then you see these towns and
that's what they are to, me more a town than a.
City AND i say that in a good. Way that
are they don't get involved in all. That they don't
have these far flown, programs they don't try to have
(19:21):
sister city, relationships and the mayor is not traveling to
on these, supposed you, know trips that are all, junkets,
really and they don't try to be competitors In New.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
York they deliver city.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Services and as geeky and nerdy as that may make me,
SEEM i love.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
THAT i love what this woman.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
DOES i love the thought of being really really good
at being ethical and efficient and customer service, oriented even
when sometimes the citizens may not appreciate. It that kind
of stuff that thrills. Me that's WHAT i thought government
service was going to. Be Courtney slottik is her. Name
she is the city manager of Either El campo Or
el P, hasso you take your. Choice but she lives In,
(20:02):
Wharton so just think about that when you sid work.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
With what.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
She.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Lives, no that's that's WHEN i started my.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Career, oh you didn't make six hundred thousand a year back. Then, no,
yeah you.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Know the unfortunate thing is we're going to end this
interview with people thinking you make six hundred thousand dollars
a year and that that will have been your.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Fault i'll take the blame on that.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Line. OKAY i love your passion for.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
THIS i REALLY i, Do, courtney BECAUSE i love.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
You go.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Ahead i'm.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Sorry, NO i just think there's this general distrust and
disfranchisement with the government as a. Whole AND i understand
it like especially at the federal level and state, level
but so it leaks down naturally to the local, level
and so there's this giant distrust AND i well, understood
(20:54):
but because of the way the world works now and
social media and and well even even writing letters the,
EDITOR i think things are. Misunderstood and in a small
town you have a chance to sort of address. That and,
uh you don't just have the, chance you have a
responsibility To and So i'm grateful that you recognize what
(21:20):
city management should be and. IS i think it's a noble.
PROFESSION i don't think it's always, easy but at the
end of the, DAY i think the city managers across
the State texas and probably across the, country they just
want they just want cities to be livable and provide
quality life with their, citizens because that's what we.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
DO i agree with.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
THAT i agree with that you have an elected mayor PRESUMABLY.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
I do every Two, well it's. Complicated do you want
me to walk it through that or is that a? Way?
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Sure, NO i have a little, experience and you can
kind of compare and. CONTRAST i have a friend by
the name Of jimmy Pap, us and he's the mayor
Of Hunter's Village Creek point over in The villages and
it's all kidding. Aside it's a very very well run,
(22:14):
community and he is for the, elected unpaid mayor that
has a city. Manager he is very hands, on very,
passionate very committed to good fire. Service it's a shared
fire service amongst the, villages a shared police service amongst the.
Villages and they're both very, efficient very good water construction.
(22:35):
SAFETY i, mean he is all over. It for guy
that makes no money doing, this but he's passionate about.
It And i've met his city manager and he's kind
of a good. Sport and it's the way it's supposed to, work,
right the operations guy and the more kind of political
face of the. Community And i'm assuming that's probably the
way y'all.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Work that's exactly how we. Work but when we, vote
we have four large, positions AND i, apologize we have
four district positions and three at large positions and they're
elected every other. Year this is getting boring, fast so
let me jump to.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
It the PERSON i love this sort of. Stuff you
have no.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
IDEA i Think i'm the first person that ever read
the charter of The city Of houston and quoted it
at city council meetings and people THOUGHT i was a.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Weirdo, yeah, well our charter had to change because of
this the person that gets the most at large votes
becomes the, mayor so they're not on the ballot of the,
mayor but they have to get the most votes to
be the. Mayor it's very unusual and that goes back
to something that happened in the eighties when they tried
(23:40):
to redistrict, here but THE doj denied. It they said
it wouldn't be fair to. Minority so city found a
work around to, say the person that gets the most
votes becomes. Mayor now you don't have to go through
THE dj for that, clearinghouse so you, know is when
(24:00):
that you. Redistrict it's Just i'm sure you're familiar with that.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Process, yes, YES i enjoy that sort of.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
STUFF i enjoyed our budget.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Process there were PEOPLE i, enjoyed you. KNOW i came
on to City council In january of two having been
elected in oh, one and the zero based budgeting phase
had kind of had kind of the trend had come and.
Gone BUT i love the. Concept and for those of
you who don't know anybody's been in business for a,
(24:32):
while particularly, budgeting those zero based budgeting is a reaction
to what creeps the ineptitude the inefficiencies that creep into
the budgeting, process which, is if a department gets four
hundred thousand one, year then the next year they think
they're getting four hundred thousand and they just fight for
an incremental amount and so. On once a bad budgetary
(24:55):
allocation is, made then the, idea how do we get
rid of? It, well it's there so zero based budgetings
where you start over and, go we're not giving you
four hundred. Thousand show me how much you should get
because it may only be two, hundred it might be seven.
Hundred but let's start over from. Scratch it's a much more,
painful deep dig into the, facts but it's a better
way to run.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Things Courtney slottick is our.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Guest she's the city manager of Either El paso Or El.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Campo she makes six hundred thousand dollars a year and
she'll be our guests coming. Up but everybody knows who
this guy.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
Is come, on, man mit The Michael, Berry come.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
On Courtney slottick is our.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Guest she has graciously agreed to spend her time in the,
barrel and she's a good sport about.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
It she's from a college station.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
And she is apparently a nuts and, bolts x's and,
o's blocking and, tackling get it, done city. Manager and
this is why small towns work better than big. Cities,
now small town residents don't believe. That small town residents
will tell you that there was a leaf on their
street that didn't get picked up for three days the other,
day that's not a bad. Thing that's why small towns
(26:02):
are better run than big cities is because the people
are so obsessive about every. Detail it's the broken paint.
Theory in a big city they, Go i'm just glad
there's not a dead body waiting out there for three.
Days and that's the. Difference it's a lot harder to
be the city manager of a small town Like El
paso Slash El campo than it is the city Of.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Houston is the city Of.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Houston there's no expectation your doors can be unlocked as
you're driving along by hitting a. Pothole that's so, big
children are lost into. POTHOLES i, mean it's. Bad they
don't expect anything to be, Good but in a place
like this they.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Do, courtney what is your.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Don't give me some, bs you, know pie in the sky,
answer what is your thrill when you go, in what's
a win for you in a? Day what's the thing
that you do that you really enjoy.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
DOING i love how you set that, Up so any
ANSWER i could how people will.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
GO i just like to make a.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Difference, no that's, okay, OBVIOUSLY i mean you wouldn't be doing.
That but why DON'T i give you an? Example would
that be better IF i give, you like a concrete
example of course?
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Specificity?
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Sure. Okay so we had a one hundred year old
cast iron water line in the ground Underneath highway seventy.
One for over one hundred, years this thing kept breaking
and we kept patching it, breaking, patching, breaking pat in
the middle of a, highway, Right so you can imagine
how fun that is for not just the people working
(27:37):
on the, line but the people trying to. Traverse they're,
trying they're just trying to go north and they can't
get past these. Lines and we were able to replace that,
line and we abandoned the line in place old cast
iron line put in a new new. Line it sounds really,
weird but it feels so good to know that we
(28:00):
took care of, something even though this isn't something our
citizen C they don't, really it doesn't really, affect but
it feeds every single costal business on seventy. ONE i
mean every there's dozens of. Them there's probably forty of,
them and that's all set off of that. Line and to,
(28:21):
me even if you can't see, it even if a
resident can't appreciate, it this is the work we. Do ye, no,
yeah and.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
It makes a difference even if you don't get.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Credit.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Courtney there are people out there right, now men or, women,
who if they're, honest they would say that they derive.
Utility we don't want to say joy because it's utility
maybe out of before they go to, bed, cleaning wiping
down the countertops and making sure there are no dishes
in the. SINK i don't leave the office every day
(28:55):
until my emails are zeroed. Out ramon laughs about it
Because i'll, SAY i need ten more. Minutes what do
you do? On every email has to be zeroed, out
every document has to be removed from my, Desk everything
has to be turned. Off and THEN i AS i
get to the, DOOR i turn back AND i look
back AND i make sure everything is. Perfect SO i
walk into a perfect. Office WHEN i go to, BED
(29:16):
i go past the, SINK i make sure everything is
wiped down there are you, know little things like that
give me. JOY i am restoring order to a chaotic,
world and that gives me. Utility what you're doing is
providing the infrastructure and the basis for families and businesses
(29:36):
and human beings to. Thrive and that's not always, glamorous
but if that gives you, joy you're wired that.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Way, yep like, YOU i have the same. Routines so,
yeah if you walk by my, office just not a
paper at a. Place but maybe that's more telling my
personality than as a city. Manager it's just.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Nobody that also says that you are well suited for
what you. Do you, know there's something to be said for.
People Jim collins wrote a book Called good To. Great
if you haven't read, it you.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
Should Ed young.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Prescribed it for me in early two thousand and two
And i've read it multiple times And i've told people
to read. It and he said that if a well
functional organization needs the right people on the, bus but
the right people need to be in the right, seat
you are clearly on the right. Bus the right person
(30:35):
to be on the bus and in the right. Seat,
courtney do you do? INTERNSHIPS i think you'd be a
great person for young folks to trail around because, No,
no here's. Why you give me hope that there are
good people in, government AND i want young people to
see that because government's not about giving speeches and brochures
(30:55):
and mailers and glossy. Campaigns government is about functioning for the.
People you can't really say, no, now can? You what
an ass you would sound? Like, well that's all, Nice,
michael but, NO i don't want some intern trailing around.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Me no, Thanks, NO i mean we have.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
Before we're open to. It one thing is they speak
at conferences sometimes AND i get people walk up to
me afterwards and we exchange. Numbers AND i take that extremely. Seriously,
uh there's a young woman In. Wharton they graduate from
ut and in The Bush, school and now she's working
for the city of Sugar. Land she AND i exchange.
(31:36):
Numbers come, On i'll be your mentor we'll do. This
you may need some hips along the. Way i've been doing.
This i've been doing this a, while and so IF
i can help, you or inspire, you or or just
listen to, You i'm here because people have done that for,
me and SO i know that absolutely we were open to.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
INTERNSHIPS i know you listen to the sh so you've
heard me. Appreciate but get yourself a. Mentor find somebody
you want to be, like and if that's A Courtney
Slaught and by the, way it's not just for. Women
you can be a man and have a female. Mentor
people tend to find same sex. Mentors it naturally, occurs
(32:18):
but doesn't have.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
To be and it doesn't have to Be Courtney.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
Slot it could be the police, chief or a pastor
or most anything. Else having a mentor has been a
huge part of my success at every step of the.
Way and this is the type of person that you
want to you, know under promise and over deliver and
have write your recommendation because you showed up and worked
(32:45):
hard and made a difference and didn't distract.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
Her it's a pleasure to have you on the. Show.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
Courtney it really Is courtney, slotok city manager Of El,
campo and that portends good things For El campo that
someone as buttoned up as you is looking at the
little things so everybody else doesn't have to worry about.
It thanks for being our, guest.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
SWEETHEART i appreciate.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
It michael
That's the big debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump,
the question of the Haitian migrants who have been given
a temporary amnesty it's called and dumped into the town
of Springfield.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
This is not in debate.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Sixty thousand person town, twenty thousand people dumped there. That's
a lot on a city. And Donald Trump has been
citing the fact that the locals say that cats and
dogs are being eaten, and so it became a big
part of the debate that David Muir said, well, we
called the city manager and the city manager said it
(00:41):
wasn't true. And it turns out that's not true. They
have been getting complaints. But we were talking about city
managers in the mix and that that seemed like an
interesting job to have. Some of you will remember Matt
Patrick's wife was the city manager, or at least assistant
(01:03):
city manager of one of the outlying towns, and I
always thought that would be kind of a fun thing
to do, right, to oversee a city. You're not up
for election, and if you really care about efficiency and
service and the delivery of services and the operation of
the functions of government, I want a small government and
(01:24):
I want a localized government, but I want.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
A good government.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I always thought that'd be a really cool thing to do.
So our guest is Courtney Slatick. Hopefully I'm pronouncing that correctly.
That's what I was told the city manager of Elkempo. Courtney,
Did I get your name right?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Close enough? All right? You say it. I've been called
all kinds of things.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
So i'll take that.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
One's Courtney slat oh slatik.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Well, I hate to drop somebody in the bus under
the bus, under the but somebody pronounced it for me,
and as usual, he got it wrong. So first of all,
for people who don't know where El Campo is, we
thought that was the perfect size place and a perfect
(02:09):
kind of place.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Is that where Greek Brothers is? Are they in Wharton?
Speaker 3 (02:13):
That's right? You know we're it's in El Campo. We're
an hour southwest of Houston.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Okay, so take me there.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
If I'm leaving downtown and I'm on fifty nine, okay.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
They just stay on fifty nine.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Well, hold on, I'm hugged three times, I've been carjacked twice,
and I'm not even to six', ten, Right, okay So
i'm going to stay on. THERE i want to see
are you from this?
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Area, no not, originally But i've been IN lqba eighteen,
years so maybe all.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Right we'll go with.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
That WHEN i get To highway, SIX i want you
to tell. ME i want you to just kind of
quote the Streets i'm going to pass on my way
To El.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Passo let me Tell.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Campo, yeah not until it takes you a lot longer
to see me streets or. CITIES i think it's probably you.
Here if, yeah you pass through Sugar, Land, Richmond, Rosenberg. Kendleton,
uh there's a little town Called beasley somewhere in, between
(03:11):
and then you go To orton and we're the next.
Town we're account of about thirteen thousand.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
People people call It kendleton Because i've always Heard kenleton
as if there's not a D i know there, IS i.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
DON'T i don't know.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
What does it pay well to be a safe? MANAGER
i knew this was.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Coming, yeah Well i'm familiar with the. Show, uh so,
yes it. Can it depends on where you, go and
obviously the public has a lot to say about. That
if you Ask Al campo residents how MUCH i, made
some might say too. Much and IF i called my
peers and city. Government they would say not. ENOUGH i
(03:52):
would just we put we publish. It it's on our
it's on our website Under city Of El. Campo we
publish how MUCH i make every. Year it is public.
INFORMATION i think cities have a responsibility to say what
they do with their, money with the citizens'. Money we
have to be. Accountable i'm not seeing that as much
in these mission statements on seeing is, diversity, equity inclusion
(04:13):
and not a lot of, accountability, transparency. Responsibility more of
that needs to be out. There and so to your
point on the city manager being called out regarding The
haitian migrants and responsibility to answer that question, honestly apolitically
and make sure that information is out, THERE i think
(04:35):
we're missing the mark sometimes on. THAT a lot of
city managers are trying to do, that BUT i THINK
i think sometimes people get caught up in the politics and,
unfortunately uh that that suffers because of.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
It ramon, said he looked it up and you make six,
hundred which is a lot more THAN i.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Expected that's really. Good, Thanks.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Michael you're giving me some great.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Favorite that's what happens when you don't answer the question
we fill in with our.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Own.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Okay it says that you you served as the budget
manager for the city Of, friendswood budget measure for the
city Of College, station and budget analysts for the state Of.
Texas so let's go through how you end up the
city manager of the city Of El.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Campo where were you?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Born College?
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Station College? Station all? Right and where'd you go to high?
Speaker 3 (05:23):
School am? Consolidated and then you went.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
TO a AND m where you got a bachelor's of
in political. Science what was YOUR?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Gpa AM i on a job?
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Interview, well, no you're on a life, Interview. Courtney we're holding,
You we're putting you up on a. Pedestal we just
want to.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
See if you're. Worthy. Hey, look to be honest.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
With, you it would be just as fine with me
if you barely, passed because it's more, inspiring.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Is.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
It?
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Oh my FINAL gpa was a three. Two BUT i
did go to graduate school TO i have to we're
getting to.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
That we're getting to.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
THAT i feel like you underperformed and didn't put your
full effort into.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
It that's fair. ENOUGH i was in.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
College, yeah that's.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
True master Of arts And Political science from Sam Houston State.
University And master Of Business ADMINISTRATION nba from The university
Of texas At. Tyler and then what was your first job.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Budget analysts with the city Of College.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Station and how did you like?
Speaker 3 (06:21):
THAT i loved, it BUT i was. YOUNG i had
a lot to, learn and we were blessed to have
a and m in our, backyard which meant there was continuous.
Growth we had more money than we knew what to do. With,
yeah you, know so we were literally giving money to
arts and things like. That so first out of that
(06:43):
police department. Budget so now you know WHERE i stand
on police for the rest of my. Career, obviously huge
supporter of, them and because that really shapes, you you,
know fundamentally who you, are and so that that was
a big. Motive they didn't put me over, park thank.
God SO i started out with police AND i worked
at The city Of collegation for five. Years husband moved
(07:06):
me To. Austin we lived there for not quite a.
YEAR i HAD i don't want to get. POLITICAL i
worked for the Say i'll offer you this the second
day as a budget analyst in The Texas Education. Agency
Governor perry vetoed the. Budget so the experience there was
(07:27):
was so different at the, state so different than at
the local. LEVEL i know you know, This, yes it
was so good to get out of. There AND i
went to work For friendswood because as an AGG i
couldn't read a map and drove quite a commute From
wharton To friendswood for seven or eight. Months Then i've
(07:49):
been With El campo eighteen.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Years hold on this.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Moment Courtney slottick is the city manager Of El campo
and our guest coming upon you like her so?
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Far we? Do, okay everybody needs to be woke.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
If courtney slotok is our. Guest she is the city
manager of Elp, campo and with the city manager in
the news In, Springfield, ohio we wanted a city manager
because we kind of find it, fascinating you, know if
you talk, about as we often, do that government ought
to be more.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Local you.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Know that was the point of the Original confederacy of
states that were brought together as The United states in
one federal. System was the idea that the states didn't
want to give up their. Identity South carolina was very
different From pennsylvania And New York virginia, particularly and the
states did not want to give up their sovereignty and
(08:46):
decision making and policies and culture to the very powerful
early on state Of virginia and as well As New
york And. Pennsylvania they wanted to retain their own. Independence
so as That United states was, formed you will notice
that The constitution is a document that restricts the powers
of government instead of providing powers of government and The
(09:07):
bill Of, rights it protects the individual against. Government SO
i love the idea of localized, government the state instead
of the, federal the local instead of the, state and
a well run community is a real. PLEASURE i mean
it is our small, towns, unfortunately and you're seeing this
all Over you've see this In, Belleville you're seeing this In,
waco you're seeing this In, brenham where there's this just
(09:31):
explosion of people getting out of The houstons and The
dallases because the big cities have gone to hell and
they're moving into these. Towns, unfortunately a lot of times
they're bringing the problems with them that they were fleeing
without even realizing. It See california come To texas as
the same. Theory Courtney slotick is our guest city manager
Of El. Campo All, right we've.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Worked through what she.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Makes let me figure out her husband's bank and big.
Money you live In.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Wharton Or El? CAMPO i live In El.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Campo how many police officers Does Civel campbell?
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Have our total police staff is forty. Four but that's
this girls on top of.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
It that's the old. Budget that's the old. Budget analyst
size of. Her she knows how many.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Firefighters, no we.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Don't we don't have that. MANY i mean that commissioned
and obviously some of our positions that that our civilian.
Positions that includes our chief he's not a, civilian but
our secretary that works, there as well as our animal
control officers and our school resource. Officers, so but public
safeties obviously early on in my, career that's how we
(10:37):
started to continue to be a priority for me and
for the.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Council ramon wants to know if we can ride along
with the dog. Catcher we've done a lot of police right.
Along we want we want to ride.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Along with the. Doctor you want? To we, Could we
could set that. UP i bet y'all got.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Some little bitty stuff that we never even thought about
doing a ride along.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
ON i bet y'all got some stuff we.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
PROBABLY i mean some things come to. Mind yet probably
in a small. Town that's that's how that usually.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Works how many?
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Firefighters which how many how many uh uh classified employees.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Do you have in the fire. Department it's a. Volunteer, oh, volunteer,
okay all?
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Right and, yeah do you do you allocate anything in
your budget to?
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Them a little over two hundred thousand dollars a year
and like. Much but we're. Small there's a whole host of.
Things we pay for their medical, exams we pay for their,
retirement we pay for their workers' comp for their, chemicals
for their. Uniforms we also last year we boughtom a
one point seven million dollar ladder.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Truck they would vot to approves.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Voters uh, yeah, yeah people like that and they approve
things like that and. Bondishuances so, uh that's how we
work with. THEM i get the privilege of serving on
their pension.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Board.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Uh but their volunteers are ems in how we have
Fourteen we have a total of fourteen in our enos.
Department that's paramedics plus a director and a.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Director so how many how many residents do you have
in the city Of El?
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Campo what? Twelve?
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Six hundred and, fifty BUT i don't think that. COUNTS
i put it closer to. Thirteen but our growth rate
is really.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Small that's how it orange.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Was oh, OKAY i didn't know if you were alluding
to the town or the fruit like this. LUNCHTIME i
understand how.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Many total employees of the city, overall including classified, police, fire,
well POLICE emt and all, that one.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Hundred and twenty.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Four oh that's pretty.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Lean thank. You please tell my residence that, no, yeah
we don't outsource a. Lot so of course that number
can look differently unless you can textualize. It it's really
hard to understand how many people you. Need you, know
what do we actually? Do meaning you, know we've this
(13:10):
budget cycle has been kind of kind of fun this,
year and one of the statements with out there, was,
well you've added a bunch of, positions but we need
to qualify. That the state Of texas said we have
to have a police officer and every, school so we did,
that and that means adding, personnel, Right and we've taken
services that were provided by contractors that decided to sell
(13:31):
their company to another company out of, state and we
said that's not going to. Work so we're going to
provide ic and house and so that number has grown
quite a bit over the last eighteen. Years BUT i
still think every decision and every position has to be
approved by, counsel and so we list them all on
the budget. Document and LIKE i told you exactly how
(13:53):
much we fail.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Now, honestly why she makes six hundred thousand dollars a.
Year she's. Good this girl is on top of.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
IT i like.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
It do you have? KIDS i have? One why do
you say like? That she said, KIDS i just have the.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
One we have a sixteen year old daughter that's actively
applying for college right.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Now IF i were to, ask what's your daughter's, Name,
Tara kara with the C.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Tara with a, Tea.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Tara T IF i were to Ask tara what her mom,
does how closely could she approximate what you actually?
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Do, OH i think she's nail. IT i do because
she used to sit in on council meetings because she was,
interested and she's taking ap, government so she kind of
she kind of has figured it. OUT i went at
a very young, AGE i kind of explained what city
management versus the, policymakers what they.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Do what did your parents? Do what do your parents
do my?
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Mom my mom is a teacher or was a. Teacher she's,
definitely she's. Retired and my father was in project management.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Construction is he still.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
You?
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Know and your mother lives.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Where richmond and Del Web, oh, yeah she like. IT
i loved it. There it's a great. Community.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
YEAH i hear good things about about that. Community i've.
Known in, Fact i've heard from from folks that live
there that listen to the. SHOW i figured you had
some public service in your. FAMILY i got that sense
from your values in your. Life of, Course, NO i,
Did and So i'm not surprised that your mother was a,
teacher father was a.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Veteran, NO i wouldn't have surprised.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Me.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Yeah so IF i were to IF i were to ask,
residents all kidding, aside if there is something that people
would criticize you, about what would it? Be doesn't mean
you're necessarily wrong for?
Speaker 3 (15:52):
It is this like the interview question where you say
what's your great weakness and they say, Yeah and.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
When people can't give me the greatest, weakness that's always
what it's.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Like, no there's you, know, no, no no city manager is.
PERFECT i, Think, uh sometimes our messaging can be. Better.
Uh we need to we need to be out there
with our citizens. More we need to be more. Visible
we need to do a better job of. Communicating i'm
(16:24):
on our local, radio uh every other week trying to
get our message out and uh in the. Newspaper BUT
i think sometimes we get caught up in government and
we we we assume everyone knows what we know and,
uh we're not able to articulate that vision because we
Were So i've never worked with the private, sector so,
(16:46):
Uh i've only been the public sector my entire. Life
SO i think we lose sight of how how that
looks for people that are in the private. Sector and
SO i would, say you, know if there's if there's
a weakness on my, side a couple of. Things the first,
IS i DON'T i don't necessarily run the city like
a budget like a. Business there there's pros and cons
to that Because i've because of the inherentness of working
(17:10):
only in local government my whull. Career but the other
side is we we don't do there There there can
be there can be times WHEN i think we've got
in our head that it has to be a certain,
way and, uh it takes us a while to get,
things to get to the other, uh to get to
(17:33):
the more business minded. Ideas MAYBE i don't know how
to word that.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Better courtney sladek is the city manager of the City
Ville Passo more with.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Her Com.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Michael Bailey.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Show DID i Say El? Paso i'm, Sorry ramon, SAID
i went to break Saying El. PASO i Meant El.
Campo it's the same thing it. Did El paso And El.
Campo you can actually say them. Interchangeably they're the same.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Town, yeah they're.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Interchangeable, Now, yes that's okay because we get mail From
El paso all the. Time, yeah we Really after.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
The city manager Of, Springfield ohio was in the, news
we wanted the city manager of our Own and Now
campo has a reputation as being a well run.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
City you, know, FOLKS i got to tell, you.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Being the mayor pro tem of The city Of houston
opened my eyes to something and my nose and my
ears to something that was a screeching sound and a foul.
Smell how big city governments run is. Awful the amount of,
fraud the amount of, waste the amount of, inefficiency the
dereliction of, duty the people who are overpaid and underperforming
(18:36):
the number of people who don't show up to work
for long periods of, time the amount of theft in.
Government it's a morass of. Evil it's, horrible and that's
why nothing can get. Done it's why the city services
are so poorly. Done and you see good people that
sign up to serve in the police department or the fire,
department or public works or any other and you feel
(18:59):
bad for them because they're in a situation that is
like A kafka, movie A kofka a, book and it's,
tragic it's. Sad but then you see these towns and
that's what they are to, me more a town than a.
City AND i say that in a good. Way that
are they don't get involved in all. That they don't
have these far flown, programs they don't try to have
(19:21):
sister city, relationships and the mayor is not traveling to
on these, supposed you, know trips that are all, junkets,
really and they don't try to be competitors In New.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
York they deliver city.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Services and as geeky and nerdy as that may make me,
SEEM i love.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
THAT i love what this woman.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
DOES i love the thought of being really really good
at being ethical and efficient and customer service, oriented even
when sometimes the citizens may not appreciate. It that kind
of stuff that thrills. Me that's WHAT i thought government
service was going to. Be Courtney slottik is her. Name
she is the city manager of Either El campo Or
el P, hasso you take your. Choice but she lives In,
(20:02):
Wharton so just think about that when you sid work.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
With what.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
She.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Lives, no that's that's WHEN i started my.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Career, oh you didn't make six hundred thousand a year back. Then, no,
yeah you.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Know the unfortunate thing is we're going to end this
interview with people thinking you make six hundred thousand dollars
a year and that that will have been your.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Fault i'll take the blame on that.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Line. OKAY i love your passion for.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
THIS i REALLY i, Do, courtney BECAUSE i love.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
You go.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Ahead i'm.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Sorry, NO i just think there's this general distrust and
disfranchisement with the government as a. Whole AND i understand
it like especially at the federal level and state, level
but so it leaks down naturally to the local, level
and so there's this giant distrust AND i well, understood
(20:54):
but because of the way the world works now and
social media and and well even even writing letters the,
EDITOR i think things are. Misunderstood and in a small
town you have a chance to sort of address. That and,
uh you don't just have the, chance you have a
responsibility To and So i'm grateful that you recognize what
(21:20):
city management should be and. IS i think it's a noble.
PROFESSION i don't think it's always, easy but at the
end of the, DAY i think the city managers across
the State texas and probably across the, country they just
want they just want cities to be livable and provide
quality life with their, citizens because that's what we.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
DO i agree with.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
THAT i agree with that you have an elected mayor PRESUMABLY.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
I do every Two, well it's. Complicated do you want
me to walk it through that or is that a? Way?
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Sure, NO i have a little, experience and you can
kind of compare and. CONTRAST i have a friend by
the name Of jimmy Pap, us and he's the mayor
Of Hunter's Village Creek point over in The villages and
it's all kidding. Aside it's a very very well run,
(22:14):
community and he is for the, elected unpaid mayor that
has a city. Manager he is very hands, on very,
passionate very committed to good fire. Service it's a shared
fire service amongst the, villages a shared police service amongst the.
Villages and they're both very, efficient very good water construction.
(22:35):
SAFETY i, mean he is all over. It for guy
that makes no money doing, this but he's passionate about.
It And i've met his city manager and he's kind
of a good. Sport and it's the way it's supposed to, work,
right the operations guy and the more kind of political
face of the. Community And i'm assuming that's probably the
way y'all.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Work that's exactly how we. Work but when we, vote
we have four large, positions AND i, apologize we have
four district positions and three at large positions and they're
elected every other. Year this is getting boring, fast so
let me jump to.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
It the PERSON i love this sort of. Stuff you
have no.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
IDEA i Think i'm the first person that ever read
the charter of The city Of houston and quoted it
at city council meetings and people THOUGHT i was a.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Weirdo, yeah, well our charter had to change because of
this the person that gets the most at large votes
becomes the, mayor so they're not on the ballot of the,
mayor but they have to get the most votes to
be the. Mayor it's very unusual and that goes back
to something that happened in the eighties when they tried
(23:40):
to redistrict, here but THE doj denied. It they said
it wouldn't be fair to. Minority so city found a
work around to, say the person that gets the most
votes becomes. Mayor now you don't have to go through
THE dj for that, clearinghouse so you, know is when
(24:00):
that you. Redistrict it's Just i'm sure you're familiar with that.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Process, yes, YES i enjoy that sort of.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
STUFF i enjoyed our budget.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Process there were PEOPLE i, enjoyed you. KNOW i came
on to City council In january of two having been
elected in oh, one and the zero based budgeting phase
had kind of had kind of the trend had come and.
Gone BUT i love the. Concept and for those of
you who don't know anybody's been in business for a,
(24:32):
while particularly, budgeting those zero based budgeting is a reaction
to what creeps the ineptitude the inefficiencies that creep into
the budgeting, process which, is if a department gets four
hundred thousand one, year then the next year they think
they're getting four hundred thousand and they just fight for
an incremental amount and so. On once a bad budgetary
(24:55):
allocation is, made then the, idea how do we get
rid of? It, well it's there so zero based budgetings
where you start over and, go we're not giving you
four hundred. Thousand show me how much you should get
because it may only be two, hundred it might be seven.
Hundred but let's start over from. Scratch it's a much more,
painful deep dig into the, facts but it's a better
way to run.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Things Courtney slottick is our.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Guest she's the city manager of Either El paso Or El.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Campo she makes six hundred thousand dollars a year and
she'll be our guests coming. Up but everybody knows who
this guy.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
Is come, on, man mit The Michael, Berry come.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
On Courtney slottick is our.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Guest she has graciously agreed to spend her time in the,
barrel and she's a good sport about.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
It she's from a college station.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
And she is apparently a nuts and, bolts x's and,
o's blocking and, tackling get it, done city. Manager and
this is why small towns work better than big. Cities,
now small town residents don't believe. That small town residents
will tell you that there was a leaf on their
street that didn't get picked up for three days the other,
day that's not a bad. Thing that's why small towns
(26:02):
are better run than big cities is because the people
are so obsessive about every. Detail it's the broken paint.
Theory in a big city they, Go i'm just glad
there's not a dead body waiting out there for three.
Days and that's the. Difference it's a lot harder to
be the city manager of a small town Like El
paso Slash El campo than it is the city Of.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Houston is the city Of.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Houston there's no expectation your doors can be unlocked as
you're driving along by hitting a. Pothole that's so, big
children are lost into. POTHOLES i, mean it's. Bad they
don't expect anything to be, Good but in a place
like this they.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Do, courtney what is your.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Don't give me some, bs you, know pie in the sky,
answer what is your thrill when you go, in what's
a win for you in a? Day what's the thing
that you do that you really enjoy.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
DOING i love how you set that, Up so any
ANSWER i could how people will.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
GO i just like to make a.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Difference, no that's, okay, OBVIOUSLY i mean you wouldn't be doing.
That but why DON'T i give you an? Example would
that be better IF i give, you like a concrete
example of course?
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Specificity?
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Sure. Okay so we had a one hundred year old
cast iron water line in the ground Underneath highway seventy.
One for over one hundred, years this thing kept breaking
and we kept patching it, breaking, patching, breaking pat in
the middle of a, highway, Right so you can imagine
how fun that is for not just the people working
(27:37):
on the, line but the people trying to. Traverse they're,
trying they're just trying to go north and they can't
get past these. Lines and we were able to replace that,
line and we abandoned the line in place old cast
iron line put in a new new. Line it sounds really,
weird but it feels so good to know that we
(28:00):
took care of, something even though this isn't something our
citizen C they don't, really it doesn't really, affect but
it feeds every single costal business on seventy. ONE i
mean every there's dozens of. Them there's probably forty of,
them and that's all set off of that. Line and to,
(28:21):
me even if you can't see, it even if a
resident can't appreciate, it this is the work we. Do ye, no,
yeah and.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
It makes a difference even if you don't get.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Credit.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Courtney there are people out there right, now men or, women,
who if they're, honest they would say that they derive.
Utility we don't want to say joy because it's utility
maybe out of before they go to, bed, cleaning wiping
down the countertops and making sure there are no dishes
in the. SINK i don't leave the office every day
(28:55):
until my emails are zeroed. Out ramon laughs about it
Because i'll, SAY i need ten more. Minutes what do
you do? On every email has to be zeroed, out
every document has to be removed from my, Desk everything
has to be turned. Off and THEN i AS i
get to the, DOOR i turn back AND i look
back AND i make sure everything is. Perfect SO i
walk into a perfect. Office WHEN i go to, BED
(29:16):
i go past the, SINK i make sure everything is
wiped down there are you, know little things like that
give me. JOY i am restoring order to a chaotic,
world and that gives me. Utility what you're doing is
providing the infrastructure and the basis for families and businesses
(29:36):
and human beings to. Thrive and that's not always, glamorous
but if that gives you, joy you're wired that.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Way, yep like, YOU i have the same. Routines so,
yeah if you walk by my, office just not a
paper at a. Place but maybe that's more telling my
personality than as a city. Manager it's just.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Nobody that also says that you are well suited for
what you. Do you, know there's something to be said for.
People Jim collins wrote a book Called good To. Great
if you haven't read, it you.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
Should Ed young.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Prescribed it for me in early two thousand and two
And i've read it multiple times And i've told people
to read. It and he said that if a well
functional organization needs the right people on the, bus but
the right people need to be in the right, seat
you are clearly on the right. Bus the right person
(30:35):
to be on the bus and in the right. Seat,
courtney do you do? INTERNSHIPS i think you'd be a
great person for young folks to trail around because, No,
no here's. Why you give me hope that there are
good people in, government AND i want young people to
see that because government's not about giving speeches and brochures
(30:55):
and mailers and glossy. Campaigns government is about functioning for the.
People you can't really say, no, now can? You what
an ass you would sound? Like, well that's all, Nice,
michael but, NO i don't want some intern trailing around.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Me no, Thanks, NO i mean we have.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
Before we're open to. It one thing is they speak
at conferences sometimes AND i get people walk up to
me afterwards and we exchange. Numbers AND i take that extremely. Seriously,
uh there's a young woman In. Wharton they graduate from
ut and in The Bush, school and now she's working
for the city of Sugar. Land she AND i exchange.
(31:36):
Numbers come, On i'll be your mentor we'll do. This
you may need some hips along the. Way i've been doing.
This i've been doing this a, while and so IF
i can help, you or inspire, you or or just
listen to, You i'm here because people have done that for,
me and SO i know that absolutely we were open to.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
INTERNSHIPS i know you listen to the sh so you've
heard me. Appreciate but get yourself a. Mentor find somebody
you want to be, like and if that's A Courtney
Slaught and by the, way it's not just for. Women
you can be a man and have a female. Mentor
people tend to find same sex. Mentors it naturally, occurs
(32:18):
but doesn't have.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
To be and it doesn't have to Be Courtney.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
Slot it could be the police, chief or a pastor
or most anything. Else having a mentor has been a
huge part of my success at every step of the.
Way and this is the type of person that you
want to you, know under promise and over deliver and
have write your recommendation because you showed up and worked
(32:45):
hard and made a difference and didn't distract.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
Her it's a pleasure to have you on the. Show.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
Courtney it really Is courtney, slotok city manager Of El,
campo and that portends good things For El campo that
someone as buttoned up as you is looking at the
little things so everybody else doesn't have to worry about.
It thanks for being our, guest.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
SWEETHEART i appreciate.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
It michael
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!