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Dabney Appointed To City Park Board
Mayor names a slew of individuals to local governmental boards in Friday announcement.
Jason Miller
The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - With his administration taking heat over minority hiring issues, Mayor Chuck Oberlie named a black person to the city's park board, the first time that's been done here.
Oberlie named Bryant Dabney to replace Bob McKee, who was elected to the city council in November and was sworn in to that post on Friday.
Naming Dabney, who formerly headed the city's Midnight Basketball program, was "a positive move," the La Porte County NAACP leader said Friday.
"It shows the city is taking some initiative to address an imbalance in the city," Mike Rivera said. "This is the kind of thing it will take to create unity in the community."
Oberlie also recommended the appointment of a black person to the city's Port Authority board. Jonita Davis, a student at PNC and a freelance writer, has been researching and writing a history of the Port Authority for more than a year. Oberlie said she would prove beneficial in determining the future development of the Port Authority.
Oberlie said Dabney's appointment was not made to appease anyone.
"We look for the most qualified person and Bryant possesses the strong educational background needed in a department as diverse as the park department," Oberlie said.
Dabney is a 1991 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and is the director of financial aid at Purdue University-North Central.
Dabney and Davis were two of several appointments announced Friday by Oberlie, who also re-appointed Tom Milcarek, a Republican, to the park board, and Milcarek, Jim Kintzele, Denzil Wilson and Kevin Kieft to the city's Urban Enterprise Association.
Ken Behrendt and Ed Bigda were re-appointed to one-year terms on the Redevelopment Commission and Tim Smith to a four-year term on the Plan Commission.
Oberlie also re-appointed Greg Poulin to a four-year term on the Aviation Commission and Kirk Rogers to a three-year term on the Barker Civic Center Board. He also appointed News-Dispatch county government reporter Laurie Wink to the Barker Civic Center Board.
Tony Metzcus, Michigan City Controller John Schaefer and Oberlie were re-appointed to the Board of Public Works and Safety to four-year terms, and Janice Behler and Doug Waters were named to the county convention and visitors bureau board for two-year terms.
Eddie Wilson was appointed as a resident-member to the Housing Authority board.
Oberlie also will ask the City Council to approve the appointments of James Guerrucci and Tyra Robinson-Walker to the city's Human Rights Commission.
Dabney Appointed To City Park Board
Mayor names a slew of individuals to local governmental boards in Friday announcement.
Jason Miller
The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - With his administration taking heat over minority hiring issues, Mayor Chuck Oberlie named a black person to the city's park board, the first time that's been done here.
Oberlie named Bryant Dabney to replace Bob McKee, who was elected to the city council in November and was sworn in to that post on Friday.
Naming Dabney, who formerly headed the city's Midnight Basketball program, was "a positive move," the La Porte County NAACP leader said Friday.
"It shows the city is taking some initiative to address an imbalance in the city," Mike Rivera said. "This is the kind of thing it will take to create unity in the community."
Oberlie also recommended the appointment of a black person to the city's Port Authority board. Jonita Davis, a student at PNC and a freelance writer, has been researching and writing a history of the Port Authority for more than a year. Oberlie said she would prove beneficial in determining the future development of the Port Authority.
Oberlie said Dabney's appointment was not made to appease anyone.
"We look for the most qualified person and Bryant possesses the strong educational background needed in a department as diverse as the park department," Oberlie said.
Dabney is a 1991 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and is the director of financial aid at Purdue University-North Central.
Dabney and Davis were two of several appointments announced Friday by Oberlie, who also re-appointed Tom Milcarek, a Republican, to the park board, and Milcarek, Jim Kintzele, Denzil Wilson and Kevin Kieft to the city's Urban Enterprise Association.
Ken Behrendt and Ed Bigda were re-appointed to one-year terms on the Redevelopment Commission and Tim Smith to a four-year term on the Plan Commission.
Oberlie also re-appointed Greg Poulin to a four-year term on the Aviation Commission and Kirk Rogers to a three-year term on the Barker Civic Center Board. He also appointed News-Dispatch county government reporter Laurie Wink to the Barker Civic Center Board.
Tony Metzcus, Michigan City Controller John Schaefer and Oberlie were re-appointed to the Board of Public Works and Safety to four-year terms, and Janice Behler and Doug Waters were named to the county convention and visitors bureau board for two-year terms.
Eddie Wilson was appointed as a resident-member to the Housing Authority board.
Oberlie also will ask the City Council to approve the appointments of James Guerrucci and Tyra Robinson-Walker to the city's Human Rights Commission.