by Holly Allen
Valley Falls lost yet another advocate at City Hall last week with the resignation of council member Salih Doughramaji.
According to his resignation letter, dated Dec. 26 and addressed to Mayor Jeanette Shipley, his departure is a direct result of her alleged hostile treatment of City Administrator Audree Guzman.
It states: “Congratulations Mayor on driving away the best City Administrator this city has ever had. It took you two years, but your persistence finally paid off. After much thought and deliberation, I’ve decided I don’t have the energy to deal with your narcissism and ego. This said, I resign my city council seat immediately.”
Elected in November of 2017, Doughramaji says he chose to serve on the council simply to try and make a difference — even if just a small one.
“I know a lot about city infrastructure and thought that knowledge would be of benefit toward improving the city’s long-neglected water and wastewater systems,” he stated.
Doughramaji and his wife, Betsy, have two teenage sons, Spencer and Nolan. By day, he works as an Economic Development Representative for the Kansas Department of Commerce. The council has relied upon his work experience and knowledge in recent years while working to obtain grants for the city’s necessary infrastructure projects.
“I doubt that most citizens in Valley Falls realize the amount of knowledge that Salih brought to city government regarding state and federal funding options,” stated council president Gary McKnight. “His knowledge has been of paramount importance in the sewer project, as just one example. We are once again losing a quality person who worked tirelessly for this city over one person’s agenda.”
Doughramaji’s resignation follows that of city clerk Christine Weishaar Dec. 13 and city administrator Audree Guzman, Dec. 20. All three have named Mayor Shipley as the primary reason for their departures. Left serving City Hall are Public Works Director Bill McCoy and Police Chief Carrie Clark and their respective subordinates.
“I believe Jeanette cares very much for the community and wants the best for it,” Doughramaji stated. “However, how she goes about the business of that is very destructive.”
With Doughramaji’s seat vacant, once the new council is seated this month, it will consist of Jennifer Ingraham, Matt Frakes and incoming members Dennis Tichenor and Jason Heinen.
The Valley Falls City Council meets at City Hall, 417 Broadway, at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of each month. While the meetings are streamed live on the city’s Facebook page, concerned citizens are also encouraged to attend the meetings in person. The first portion of each meeting is reserved for public comment.
Covering the communities in Jefferson County, Kansas
