MANKATO — After nearly three decades behind the microphone, longtime southern Minnesota radio personality Lisa Kaye is signing off … but not by choice.
Kaye, the longtime host of “Talk of the Town” on KTOE and a familiar voice across Radio Mankato stations, said she was informed Thursday that her position had been eliminated as part of what management described as a financial decision.
“I was pulled into an office and handed a piece of paper and told that it wasn’t my performance, that it was strictly a financial decision,” Kaye said. “I said, ‘Okay.’”
The piece of paper read, in part, “After careful consideration, the organization has made the difficult decision to reduce staffing levels due to budgetary constraints and operational needs. As a result your position has been eliminated. … Your final paycheck, including all wages earned through your last day of employment plus three additional days will be provided to you by check today.”
The meeting came just moments after she finished what would unknowingly become her final broadcast.
Kaye said she reported to work as usual around 5:15 a.m., recorded a show for the company’s classic country station, hosted her live morning program on Minnesota 100 and then wrapped up “Talk of the Town” before being called into the meeting.
“I don’t think it was comfortable for anybody,” she said. “You immediately know what’s coming.”
While losing the job was difficult, Kaye said she isn’t angry.
“It’s a tough time,” she said. “I understand the business decisions.”
Instead, Kaye said she’s focused on what the job allowed her to do over nearly 30 years in broadcasting.
“I loved my job,” she said. “I’ve loved every minute of being a part of the community and getting to know listeners.”
She said hosting “Talk of the Town,” a community interview program she inherited after longtime host Pete Steiner retired, gave her a chance to allow guests to shine.
“That show was never about me,” she said. “It was always about who was in the chair across from me.”
She said she took particular pride in giving local nonprofit organizations an opportunity to tell their stories.
“So many organizations work so hard to do things for the community that don’t have an advertising budget,” she said. “The opportunity to give a voice to people that don’t normally have a voice … that’s what I’m going to miss.”
Over the years, Kaye interviewed everyone from city and county officials to business leaders and nonprofit volunteers, helping listeners better understand the people behind public decisions.
“It’s really about humanizing that other person,” she said. “Those people are real people that go home every day to real families.”
Among the interviews she’ll remember most was a recent conversation with leaders from Mankato Clinic following layoffs there.
“They requested to come on ‘Talk of the Town’ to tell the story,” she said. “The fact that they felt safe and comfortable enough with me to use their own voice … that was a big honor.”
Although she wasn’t able to say goodbye to listeners on the air, Kaye said she hopes they know how grateful she is.
“I just want to thank everybody for allowing me to be a part of their lives for almost the last 30 years,” she said. “I’m going to be OK.”
Kaye said she hasn’t decided what’s next professionally but plans to remain in southern Minnesota.
“I have other dreams,” she said. “I love being of service to people. I think it’s time to look at some of those other areas.”
Kaye said she’s not sure what will become of “Talk of the Town.”
You can reach Robb Murray at (507) 344-6382, or rmurray@mankatofreepress.com.