Harry's Gang: Come back, Brian, the city needs you

They say you can’t go home again, but it sure would be nice sometimes if some people did.

For example, former Cloquet City Administrator Brian Fritsinger served Cloquet for over 18 years — capably, by most accounts.

But it’s been a few years now, Mr. Fritsinger, since you ran a city council meeting, and we miss you. Sure, the council has met every two weeks (or so) like clockwork without you, and probably will for years long after we’re all gone. After all, Cloquet has had a city council since 1904 and they did pretty well without us for over 95 years. But we did pretty well with you, too, and we’d like you to come home.

Your resignation with just a few weeks’ notice in 2017 shocked many of us, but it soon seemed obvious: the difficulties of running the city in a safe, efficient, and orderly manner against those who not only refused to support your work, but actively fought against it, made the job just too hard to endure. We understand. We’ve all given up on our missions occasionally, many of us with much weaker reasons than yours.

But we forgive you, Mr. Fritsinger, for abandoning us. We don’t think we would have lasted as long as you did in the face of those opposed to your calm skill and fair application of city business. Heck, many of us would have quit your job years before you finally did. But we still wish you hadn’t done it. Your ability to see the “big picture,” yet focus on the city’s everyday needs was impressive. You lead a good team. You worked well with others, from business leaders to community members to politicians.

We happen to know you’re still around. So coming home won’t be such a long trip for you. Much shorter than the trip you take every day now, to a neighboring city helping a county that will never really appreciate you the way we did. Sure, we didn’t always show our appreciation the way we should have, but you can’t please all the councilors all the time. Looking back, we realize you tried. Admirably. And you could do it again.

You may even be reading this editorial. But just in case, if anyone knows Mr. Fritsinger personally, please show him this. Let him know that plenty of us want him back.

There’s a lot of work that needs to be done. Housing is an ongoing issue. Our retail environment has been developing nicely but we need some direction. Our medical community is evolving, and we need a steady hand. The police department is in flux since you left, losing many experienced and qualified leaders; we expected our young police chief to be in his position for years, and even he left us. None of this would be so complicated if you were still working in City Hall.

Let me be blunt: we’re without a city administrator now, and you are the perfect candidate.

Why? Well, your replacement administrator, after less than two years, left us with a lot of work to be done, and we need someone to replace the replacement. Someone who wants to live in Cloquet. Someone who, maybe, raised their kids here; knows its people, knows its strengths, weaknesses and potential. Someone with experience. About 18 years’ worth, maybe. We’re pretty sure you know what they are looking for in a city administrator. Applications are being taken now. Please fill one out and drop it off at City Hall soon. It’s in a new place since you worked there. Call me if you need the new address.

Pete Radosevich is the publisher of the Pine Knot News community newspaper and an attorney in Esko who is finally hosting the longtime cable access talk show Harry’s Gang on CAT-7 again. His opinions are his own. Contact him at [email protected].