Pueblog USa
Saturday, August 18, 2007
City Council and Longterm Goals
How long will the YMCA project last?
Regarding the City Council decision to fund the YMCA, I would like to make a few comments.
The first is that a commitment of this nature should have been brought before the voters with a proposed mill levy increase. The city infrastructure is not in the best of shape, several non-profits which add substance to the ambience of this community may have a harder time, vital city departments such as police and fire may well suffer, programs necessary to the neighborhoods may be cut, and our older parks are not being kept up in a manner which would foster tourism and pride in our city.
The second comment is that there is a mind-boggling lack of continuity from City Council to City Council, even though there is an overlap of councilpersons every year. Several years ago, I sat in a council meeting where a project was praised and even solicited. Now, that project (actually there are more than one) hardly makes it as far up as the dimmest recess of the mind of the Council. I hesitate to mention the specific projects by name, as I have no direct authority from those projects to do so.
I am very pleased with the beautification of the city idea that is being put forward by this Council. At the same time, in addition to the YMCA, we have invested in a new park by Lake Minnequa. Please understand that I am not against this park. I just do not want the other parks to then be shoved off the back end, which is what seems to be happening as each Council wants to start in on something new.
How long with this Council’s agenda last? We need to finish what we start, as long as it is still deemed worthwhile. I am afraid that the money going to the YMCA will cause a great many things to be pushed aside, with the funding of those projects being for naught.
Next entry: Don't Bother Me with the Facts, My Mind is Made Up Previous entry: OHNO Bi-Monthly Meeting Report — June 5, 2007