Try to separate your feelings about me, the pool, or the future of LFR for a minute and just look at the pattern. A citizen raises concerns about a City decision and asks whether proper law, policy, or process was followed. Instead of addressing the concern, the focus shifts to the citizen: how they said it, whether they were sufficiently “respectful,” whether they mentioned City Manager Grant Gager, and ultimately whether they should be permitted to continue speaking at all.

For months, Livingston City Manager Grant Gager has pushed back against concerns that Livingston Fire & Rescue is being defunded, diminished, or positioned for a major change. He has said the department is well funded and well resourced, and he has pointed to an increase of nearly $500,000 in Fire and Ambulance spending as evidence that the City is continuing to invest in Livingston Fire & Rescue. At the September 1 City Commission meeting, Gager again tried to reassure both

On August 18, Commissioner Cindy Daniels publicly accused an unnamed City employee of submitting false information, falsifying credentials and being unqualified for the position. She said she had “factual documentation and public records” to support those conclusions. Chair Melissa Nootz then expanded the discussion to possible fraud, City liability, violations of state law and constitutional rights. Only after making those statements publicly did the Commission move to send