To the Editor:
The Troutman Town Council has been handed an opportunity to fix what they screwed up on January 4, 2021, when they hired the current town manager, who is now on an extended sick leave. The mess we have in Troutman today is the result of the council’s decision nearly five years ago. Ultimately, the council is the responsible party because they allowed uncontrolled growth of residential and commercial developments. We have traffic issues like a major city, and an annual tax bill that has crippled many citizens. The town has severe deficiencies in its infrastructure and inadequate water and sewer availability. This council and town manager have ignored the demands of the taxpayers and will continue to do so.
Let us not forget that the town manager was hired on January 4, 2021, with an annual salary of $91,500, plus a car a car allowance of $600 per month. Today, the town manager’s annual salary is $188,140, plus car allowance. This equates to an increase of 105 percent in base salary since he was hired. How does this happen? The council has never explained this outrageous contract, which was approved without any discussion in public.
So, here we are today learning the interim town manager is taking another job. What now, council members? Are you going to find another unqualified town manager? Are you going to sign them to a $200,000 annual salary? Maybe this time you can do your homework and start by interviewing qualified candidates who meet the minimum qualifications of the job. This was not done the last time around. The taxpayers have seen firsthand what happens when you hire a manager based on “connections” rather than qualifications.
Dan Hester
Troutman
I agree wholeheartedly.
They’ll wait as long as possible then hire someone they are close with so there won’t be scrutiny on their past behavior. There’s a reason the interim town manager jumped ship to another county rather than go for this role.
Haters gotta hate. What a bunch of clowns. Nothing better to do than denigrate a good man.
Semper fi, Ron.
Can you list 5 things Ron Wyatt has done for the people of Troutman? Other than drag a child across the park on his golf cart?
Pure and simple insanity by these council members. 105% salary increase for the town manager over a five year period is criminal, especially given the tax burden the citizens are forced to pay. What the writer failed to mention is the massive purchases of land and buildings the town has acquired. They then decide shortly after purchasing some of this property, they turn around and sell it and acquire a new piece of property. No wonder Troutman has the highest water and sewer rates in the county. The council actions are despicable.
Yeah and if you guys have ever wondered what the smell is coming from Troutman to Mooresville near Shinnville Road, well it’s where they are pumping that sewage to Mooresville. Definitely going to have to change some things soon or there won’t be nowhere to even move around.
Although I am not a Troutman resident, I can tell you, as a past member of the Statesville City Council, that we had an agreement with Troutman about water and sewer services that would have solved many of your problems. This agreement was ended by Ron Wyatt’s predecessor.
Wyatt hasn’t done anything but destroy the Town of Troutman while he appears to be profiting. How many others have had their salary double in such a short period of time? He is nasty to anyone expressing an opinion that does not align with his. It is time for the Town of Troutman to address the vacancy and do better for the town.
It’s a mystery how the town manager has been able to control the council members and tell them how to vote, rather than the other way around. Wyatt has been cozy with too many unscrupulous developers and made a mess of too many projects. Look at that eyesore NorthFork Development on Murdock Road. His buddies destroyed some of the last and best rural residential land in the country, then the developers had a spat and walked away, leaving the land devastated and the project abandoned.
Troutman needs a manager who is professionally qualified, and a council that can listen to the citizens they represent!
He did make some great improvements to Wagner Street.