Third Outgoing City Manager: North Plains in Need of New Leadership, Stability, and Accountability
North Plains does not have a staffing problem, it has an organizational and governance problem that demands serious attention from the public.
In his September 2, 2026, exit memo, former Interim City Manager Ross Schultz documented significant weaknesses throughout city government.
North Plains City Council has announced a SPECIAL SESSION this week Wednesday October 14 at 6pm at the Jessie Mays Community Center to review the findings of the memo.
For residents, the issue extends beyond individual personalities or disagreements over growth. It concerns the city's ability to deliver services, manage public funds, retain qualified employees, conduct orderly public meetings, and make decisions transparently.
The Council's Own Behavior Is Part of the Problem to Be Examined
Perhaps the most revealing recommendation in Schultz's report is his call for a dedicated Council Rules work session.
This is a significant recommendation from a departing city manager. It indicates that, in his assessment, the Council could benefit from a basic understanding of the rules.
A recent investigation by The Real Friends of North Plains revealed that no training records were found for Anna Warrington, Mark DeForge, or Jason Rusten.
Leadership Crisis Has Made Stability a Central Concern
Schultz's report arrived amid an extended period of leadership instability.
In June 2026, OPB reported that four North Plains City Council members had resigned since the previous July and that the Council had voted to part ways with City Manager Bill Reid. By August, OPB was reporting additional mayoral and council turnover, along with the departures of two interim city managers in succession.
Staff departures during this period have raised concerns about the effect of Council conduct on the workplace. In July, The Real Friends of North Plains reported that departing interim manager Gary Marks cited the departure of nearly every department director and a lack of meaningful administrative support as reasons he could not successfully manage the city under the circumstances.
That chronology matters because a city cannot build a stable administrative organization if its leadership structure is continually changing.
A Staffing Crisis That Goes Beyond Vacant Positions
Schultz's first observation is direct: City Hall is “significantly understaffed.” He reports that it is common to have only one person present during operating hours.
The consequences of prolonged lack of staff are significant. When too few employees are responsible for too many functions, routine absences and resignations can disrupt services.
When institutional knowledge rests with a small number of individuals, every departure makes continuity more difficult.
When no one has clear responsibility for a critical function, problems can remain unresolved until they become urgent.
The Council must therefore address not just vacancies, but the organizational structure and working environment that allow the city to retain employees and operate reliably.
What the Report Says About Leadership and Accountability: North Plains Needs a Path to Stable Governance
For The Real Friends of North Plains, the broader lesson is clear: The community needs stable, transparent, accountable government that respects professional administration and understands the responsibilities that come with public office.
Leadership should be evaluated by observable results: whether essential positions are filled, whether qualified employees can be retained, whether audits and budgets are completed on time, whether projects are managed effectively, whether meetings follow clear procedures, and whether residents can participate meaningfully in local government.
North Plains deserves a government that works for the entire community—and leadership that has a vision for the long term success of all residents.
