Funny that I mention former Greensboro City Manager Mitchell Johnson just as the Rhino’s John Hammer writes that the new downtown ice rink— scheduled for a grand opening next month— is a prime example of “Mitch-management”:
None of the members of the Greensboro City Council contacted on Monday, Oct. 25 were aware that the city was going to fund an ice rink in the downtown this winter. In fact, at the Oct. 5 City Council meeting, Councilmember Zack Matheny specifically asked about the proposed temporary ice rink and was told that it would have to come back before the council before anything was done.
The next thing most councilmembers knew, some nosy reporter was calling them up asking them where the money was coming from to fund an ice rink in Festival Park.
Mayor Bill Knight, when asked if he knew about it, said, “I’m not sure. I knew something was coming up and I certainly support it as a private effort.”
Current City Manager Rashad Youbng told council member that if he could find $43,000 for the ice rink in an $18 million parks and rec budget, then he wasn’t doing his job. That’s indeed what city managers do, produce money when apparently there’s no money to be had.
