NEW YEAR SAME OLD POLITICS?

 

Friday, September 03, 2010


Welcome to the City of Creswell.Com. First we must mention, this is NOT the official website for our city. It was intended to be a site to talk about a city that once had the reputation of being the "Friendly City" Sadly, that is no longer the case. We will be talking about our present city administration and the need for change. In the next few months, we will be talking about the problems within our local government and can only hope others feel the same and are willing to help make the much needed changes.
At the February 8th City Council meeting, Mayor Hooker gave his State of the City Address. He mentioned how difficult the economy has been and yet a great deal of money was spent to build a new water plant and city hall. He didn't mention as a result, Creswell has one of the highest water rates in the state or that there could be some relief in the future. He said these projects created jobs. One can only ask, how many jobs did it create for the people of Creswell?

He mentioned the city would continue to pay for the Rick Dancer communications infomercials to enhance economic development. Again, we have to ask, how many jobs has this expensive program created? While Rick Dancer is a credible, dynamic person, he once said while running for office, "It's not right to charge tax payers for a process they can not participate in." And yes, the taxpayers are paying for these infomercials. Maybe Mr. Dancer should interview the remaining skydiving business owner or maybe the one who had his hangar confiscated by the city after being put out of business, a hangar that cost him $160,000. Yes, get the money that was owed to the city, but why not give him the remainder? That would have been the right thing to do.

Maybe he could interview the couple who built their dream home on the airport only to have their airport access increased some 3,000 percent. The first increase from $25.00 per year to $180.00 per year was reasonable and consistent with what the state charges at other airports for the same privilege. But to have raised this fee to $740.00 per year, based on false information, has put a hardship on an already heavily taxed property.

Maybe a bright spot in the Mayor's Address was a page taken from the Eddie McCluskey play book. On any given morning you could have had breakfast or a cup of coffee with Mayor Eddie at the local Dari Queen, now the Rocket Inn. Our mayor has announced that on the third Saturday of each month he will be conducting what he's calling a City Chat at the Snak Shak restaurant. We have to say that is a positive departure from, in part, "Citizens are free to have general conversations with myself or anyone on the council, but they will not be conversations discussing the day to day administration of the city."

While this is a positive toward discussions with the mayor, why not have the right to discuss issues at the city council meetings? At present, during the public forum, a citizen can get up for his or her three minutes to speak and after that, this council can pass resolutions to spend taxpayer's money with NO input or discussion. You can not raise your hand during these spending sprees and have a say. With only twelve to fifteen people in the audience, what harm could there be to let them speak? If there are a number of people who care about a particular issue, then have a special meeting on that issue to get their input. On the positive side, maybe this could be the beginning of more communication for the people of Creswell.

ABOUT OUR CRESWELL CHRONICLE

This editor says, "A newspaper is the first citizen among citizens." Maybe it should be, but her paper is not the first citizen in this town. How nice that would be if it were true. She goes on to say, "I can provide accurate information for the community." We don't know how she can do that without talking to people on both sides of the stories she writes. It's our understanding, Ms. Hollyer has NEVER talked with either skydiving business owners, one who lost his investment of $160,000 when the city confiscated his hangar after putting him out of business. She has never talked with the remaining skydiving owner who is struggling to stay in business. She has never talked with the people who had their airport access fees raised some 3,000 percent. She did write a long story about two individuals who don't pay city taxes as if they are trying to get away with something.


HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THOSE STORIES

First, these two individuals pay a great deal of taxes that go to the Creswell Schools, South Lane Fire District, Creswell Library and Lane Community College. Why doesn't this "First Citizen" mention that? Money the city would not have gotten had they not built here because of a promise to use the airport.

Second, the FAA sent a letter saying, "Ms. Joelle Briggs has never spoken with the article's author Helen Hollyer." Why would this editor go so far out of her way to ruin people's lives? She should be working to help people enjoy living in "her" community.

Did you hear her say "It's soulless without the human connection." This woman has ignored every request to come and sit down with the people she is writing about and never responds. She refuses the human connection she is talking about. Could she be soulless? We think maybe she is. Does she not listen to herself?

It was a nice thought that things could have changed for the best with the beginning of the New Year. That was not to be.

You would think there would be some disappointment by the mayor and council that only fourteen people (out of 4,700) showed up to the first City Council meeting of the year. Maybe they were relieved, people that show up usually have concerns that are seldom resolved.

It's amazing that the mayor said we should come to meetings and participate. Here are the rules for "Participating." Public Forum , Maximum time 30 minutes. Speakers will be limited to three (3) minutes each. The Council will not engage in any discussion or make any decisions based on public comment at this time; however, they may take comments under advisement for discussion and action at a future Council meeting.

So much for a fresh start

Is this really his idea of participating? Why not let an audience member raise a hand and ask a question about the discussion at hand, that's participating.

Wouldn't it be nice if our mayor made the following New Years Resolutions

While we would like to start off the new year with a clean slate, it couldn't hurt to have a short list of what we would like to see for our city in 2010.

 

First, wouldn't it be nice if our Mayor retracted this statement:

 

"Citizens  are free to have general conversations with myself or anyone on the council, but they will not be conversations discussing the day to day administration of the city.  This is not and never has been the purpose of the mayor and council.  In the past, some councilors have felt it was appropriate to circumvent the system and attempt to resolve issues without going through the proper process.  This will no longer be happening.  Day to day issues or concerns should be directed to the city administrator, not the mayor or councilors.  The purpose of the mayor and council is to make policy for the city and direct city staff to carry out that policy.."

 

Instead, wouldn't it be nice if our Mayor encouraged people to contact their elected representative first before taking time from a busy staff?  A willing council member could meet with individuals and groups and listen to whatever concerns they may have and to then bring these concerns and possible solutions to the entire council for resolutions, and not bog down our City Administrator unnecessarily with less than important matters.

 

Wouldn't it be nice if there was more compassion for those Creswell residents who are struggling with one of the highest water rates in the state.  Maybe find a solution to refinance and cut unnecessary spending.

 

The mayor said in his infomercial," People should come to council meetings, they need to participate." 

 

Wouldn't it be nice if you could go to a council meeting and do just that "Participate." As it is, you can go to the meeting and they will give you three minutes to get up and speak.  Our mayor made it a point to say the council will not enter into a discussion with you.  To our way of thinking, that is not participating.  When we had Mayor Eddie and a subject was being discussed, an audience member could raise his/her hand and have a say regarding the subject.  For example, when this city administrator had the film crew show up at a meeting to give their presentation, there was NO chance for an audience member to say anything, they just did as they pleased and made a motion and passed it as per usual, without input from Creswell citizens.  It appears there is no incremental value with these new expensive infomercials.  Is that not a disservice to our citizens?

 

Wouldn't it  be nice, if before our mayor asks a councilor to resign or reprimand another in public or dismiss an airport commissioner, that he first sat down one on one, to see what these people had on their mind and why?  Would that not be the best way to manage people, by hearing them out and not dismiss or censure without a conversation?  Is it possible our mayor might learn something that may be a benefit to our city?  If not, and a reprimand is in order, why not do that properly in an executive session?

 

Most importantly, wouldn't it be a good thing for our mayor to look close at his motives before taking action and ask himself, "Am I misusing my trusted position."

 

With these few Principles we can only hope and wish to have a fresh start for the New Year.  Happy New Year to All   

 

 

 

 

   

 

  

 

 

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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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