It's never an easy task to make large scale decisions for a city. City government is difficult especially when you are trying to righteously represent your constituents. The recent divides with our water plant design is a very difficult puzzle to figure out. This is a critical time for this project. This is where we can go right or left. I only pray that we as the City Council will be guided by that Higher Power that also stamped His seal of approval on the United States Constitution.
Us Constitution Magnet
There are a lot of gray areas in this case and in most cases involving large scale projects. We are elected by people placing their trust in us to manage their tax dollars. It is our duty to match that trust with the information we are given and coordinate a decision. Selfless decision making is key and helps to justify and sanctify our standing as elected officials.
I stand by my original opinion that our existing water plant needs to be replaced by a new one. Not refurbished - but new. That point is rather mute at this point because we have moved beyond that. Our current dispute is with the proposed "final" layout plan of the new Shenandoah water plant. About half of us on the Council see excess expenditures on a couple areas. Particularly the meeting room and offices. The engineering group that we've contracted over the past couple years to organize this plan now says that it will cost several tens of thousands of dollars to make those minor modifications to the plans if the Council wishes to do so.
Unfortunately this is a sticking point because there are those of us on the Council who do not understand how it can possibly cost such an outlandish figure. Personally, I know that it is all a matter of a computer program. Press a few buttons and it's done! It's not that hard and the only explanation is that there are multiple sub-contracts taking place which is driving our cost into the upper atmosphere.
Our dilemma now is whether we suffer the astronomical cost of responsibly modifying the current design now and save ourselves the cost of maintaining those areas had they been built, or build the plant as currently designed and suffer the recurring annual cost of maintaining those areas that are unnecessary. Essential to me is the fact that we are accountable to the taxpayer. The rest of the Council seems pretty set on their decision. Mine rests in continued prayer and self study.
It's easy to take the path of least resistance. It's a human thing. Doing what's right isn't always popular and will more times than not cost you friends, family, votes and other things. Yet, with each passing occasion it bears a deeper testimony within me that to do what's right is a cleansing experience. I am elected to help bear the burden of city decisions. I am elected to represent the interests of the citizens of Shenandoah. I know that times are very tight financially both on families and on municipal governments. I am now at the point where I know I must make frugal decisions on behalf of these good people.
A water plant we need. Yet, an economical frugal water plant we need even more. Why? Because we need to foster trust in the people elected. We need to build something that all of us can drive by and be proud of. I need to drive by and know that I voted in a way that was in the best interest economically for the people. If there is any excess in any government facility design that's about to be build it should be straightway be modified. It may seem trivial and the annual maintenance cost minimal to build as designed but the taxpayer should not have to shoulder that burden.
I pray for the continued support and trust of the citizens of Shenandoah. At this point I can't stress enough the importance for the taxpayers to attend their City Council meetings. IT IS NOT A PRIVILEGE BUT A DUTY! We are all responsible for our actions. If any of us take the action to vote then it is our responsibility to justify that vote continually by following up on the decisions of our government and how they make those decisions. I have not been approached by one invalid concern from a citizen on current government actions and policies. However, imagine how you can affect your government if you were to offer your input at the meetings. You, the taxpayer, can directly influence our decisions. Instead of complaining about a decision after the fact that you didn't witness why not be a part of the process and help maintain a healthy progress of the city.
The new Shenandoah water plant is the largest project undertaken thus far to date. Let's make sure that how it was manifested will be the envy of communities near and far and a testament of how a city government compassionately and responsibly tended to the needs of it's people.
Us Constitution Magnet
There are a lot of gray areas in this case and in most cases involving large scale projects. We are elected by people placing their trust in us to manage their tax dollars. It is our duty to match that trust with the information we are given and coordinate a decision. Selfless decision making is key and helps to justify and sanctify our standing as elected officials.
I stand by my original opinion that our existing water plant needs to be replaced by a new one. Not refurbished - but new. That point is rather mute at this point because we have moved beyond that. Our current dispute is with the proposed "final" layout plan of the new Shenandoah water plant. About half of us on the Council see excess expenditures on a couple areas. Particularly the meeting room and offices. The engineering group that we've contracted over the past couple years to organize this plan now says that it will cost several tens of thousands of dollars to make those minor modifications to the plans if the Council wishes to do so.
Unfortunately this is a sticking point because there are those of us on the Council who do not understand how it can possibly cost such an outlandish figure. Personally, I know that it is all a matter of a computer program. Press a few buttons and it's done! It's not that hard and the only explanation is that there are multiple sub-contracts taking place which is driving our cost into the upper atmosphere.
Our dilemma now is whether we suffer the astronomical cost of responsibly modifying the current design now and save ourselves the cost of maintaining those areas had they been built, or build the plant as currently designed and suffer the recurring annual cost of maintaining those areas that are unnecessary. Essential to me is the fact that we are accountable to the taxpayer. The rest of the Council seems pretty set on their decision. Mine rests in continued prayer and self study.
It's easy to take the path of least resistance. It's a human thing. Doing what's right isn't always popular and will more times than not cost you friends, family, votes and other things. Yet, with each passing occasion it bears a deeper testimony within me that to do what's right is a cleansing experience. I am elected to help bear the burden of city decisions. I am elected to represent the interests of the citizens of Shenandoah. I know that times are very tight financially both on families and on municipal governments. I am now at the point where I know I must make frugal decisions on behalf of these good people.
A water plant we need. Yet, an economical frugal water plant we need even more. Why? Because we need to foster trust in the people elected. We need to build something that all of us can drive by and be proud of. I need to drive by and know that I voted in a way that was in the best interest economically for the people. If there is any excess in any government facility design that's about to be build it should be straightway be modified. It may seem trivial and the annual maintenance cost minimal to build as designed but the taxpayer should not have to shoulder that burden.
I pray for the continued support and trust of the citizens of Shenandoah. At this point I can't stress enough the importance for the taxpayers to attend their City Council meetings. IT IS NOT A PRIVILEGE BUT A DUTY! We are all responsible for our actions. If any of us take the action to vote then it is our responsibility to justify that vote continually by following up on the decisions of our government and how they make those decisions. I have not been approached by one invalid concern from a citizen on current government actions and policies. However, imagine how you can affect your government if you were to offer your input at the meetings. You, the taxpayer, can directly influence our decisions. Instead of complaining about a decision after the fact that you didn't witness why not be a part of the process and help maintain a healthy progress of the city.
The new Shenandoah water plant is the largest project undertaken thus far to date. Let's make sure that how it was manifested will be the envy of communities near and far and a testament of how a city government compassionately and responsibly tended to the needs of it's people.
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