Dear Editor,
The front-page article in last week’s Lake Oconee News detailing “allegations” against the Madison city manager, John Klimm, is a travesty of journalistic ethics.
Extensive quotations from an anonymous source, claiming to be a city employee, buttressed by fantastical conspiracy claims by another person not employed by the city hardly constitute legitimate employee complaints. Printing this unverified garbage in your paper completely abrogates your journalistic responsibility to the public. It constitutes a grave disservice to Mr. Klimm and Madison’s citizens and municipal government.
John Klimm has served as Madison's city manager for two years and has initiated policies and programs focusing on professionalism and performance. Most municipal employees support this merit-based approach, and Mr. Klimm has received two highly favorable yearly reviews from the Madison City Council, resulting in contract extensions and pay increases.
However, some within our community are resisting their loss of influence and presenting a “dark web” approach to opposition.
The Lake Oconee News has been used as a tool in these scurrilous efforts, and it is disappointing to see how easily it was manipulated. Anonymous complaints and old allegations from disgruntled ex-employees from other towns do not inform us of anything of much value.
The manager in the article does not represent the manager known to Madison citizens and their municipal government for the past two years. His tireless efforts to improve the quality of services provided to our citizens, his focus on community involvement in decision-making, and his goal of professionalism and performance all serve Madison well.
Our future together is bright. The Lake Oconee News owes Mr. Klimm and the citizens of Madison an apology.
Eric Joyce, Madison City Council