[Tee]

Voted 3-1 to amend Pederson’s contract to include a social membership at the Dodge City Country Club.

In a separate motion, the commissioners voted to pay Pederson’s monthly dues at the country club.

Pederson said the membership provided for former City Manager John Deardoff, which Pederson is currently using, is a social membership and not a proprietary one. A proprietary membership entitles the holder to full use of the club’s facilities.

The city has a long-standing practice of paying the city manager’s country club dues so the manager can take people there for business lunches.

Lee voted against both the amendment and the appropriation, saying he did not think the city should be paying for the city manager’s membership.
“I just believe it’s an expense that we don’t need and sends the wrong message,” he said.

But Commissioner Jim Lembright said he was on the commission when it agreed to pay Deardoff’s membership dues, and he saw no difference between Deardoff and Pederson. “I’m personally OK with it,” he said.

You damn right it sends the wrong message!

Business meetings are one thing, but this extends to social use as stated in the proposal. I think Pederson should be ashamed of himself for even asking that the taxpayers pickup the tab for his liquor, food and funzies for him and anyone else he chooses to wine and dine at the country club. This is sooooo open for abuse.