Shenandoah Water Plant City Council Decision

This evening was grueling to me at City Council.  The Shenandoah water plant will continue and go on but the City Council made an unexpected vote this evening that made enemies for certain Council members and friends for others - immediately.  It is a shame that things have gotten this confused for such an important project.

At the last City Council meeting on the 26th an impromptu resolution was brought forth and voted on to accept the final design plans.  After an unproductive discussion all but one voted in favor to accept.  Two of those reluctantly.  However, in the heat of the moment we all failed to realize that proceeding with a resolution without at least 24 hours notice to the public is illegal in Iowa.  Therefore, to make it right this evening we rescinded that vote made on June 26th and brought up the resolution again that has been public for the required time.  This time the vote was 3 - 2 against the proposed final design plans of the new Shenandoah water plant.

My vote stems from the taxpayers.  I've received numerous complaints from the taxpayers about the decision we made on the 26th.  The argument is simple and still cannot be refuted.  Why pay for excess when it's unnecessary.  The specifics in question are a meeting room and also the main office.  It is charged that they are too large and not necessary for a workplace environment.  The meeting room's use would not be fully magnified but a few times a year.  With automation office space should be at a minimum and technically automation should be able to eliminate one personnel, at least, from the department.  The argument is that having those areas as planned do not outweigh the burden on the taxpayers to maintain them every year.  From the other side, it is said that those areas are necessary and also that it will cost a whole lot more to modify the plans at this stage.  Again, as in other posts, I dispute these absurd charges but that's neither here nor there at this point.

I am deeply sorry to the residents of Shenandoah for caving in so quickly at the last vote and hope that my vote this evening reclaimed some of that trust that they initially placed in me when they considered my name for this office.  I always remain open to information and change clear up to the moment of vote.  It was that way here especially since I've received so many complaints and concerns.

A recurring memory from my Tisovec, Slovakia trip kept coming to mind when pondering this situation.  I am not accustomed to giving myself any praise - ever.  However, I do believe all in all I did a decent job of representing the city of Shenandoah to the people of Tisovec and Slovakia at large.  I am pleased with my manners and actions there.  I did my best to represent myself, my God, my family, my country and my city.  Though extremely out of my normal character I endeavored extensively to reach beyond any barriers of language, customs and foreign stigma.

There was one thing I was not very proud of.  The Slovak people are very adept to toasts.  They are sincere and hold meaning.  They do so with wine which I have not touched in well over twenty years.  After the meeting with the Tisovec Parliament we had a formal toast.  I felt a huge burden in my post.  Feeling the anguish of not only a city but also a country watching me I did pick up the glass of wine.  The feelings within were stirred beyond belief.  I didn't want to stand the chance of offending these good people.  It wasn't for another couple days that I realized that they are quite accommodating to the needs of those who wish no alcohol content.  From then on mineral water was available at the toasts.  The water was available at the Parliament meeting but again out of respect and fear I picked up the wine.  At that moment I chose to compromise myself.

What volumes more could I have taught these people about me and about perseverance and upholding my principles in a foreign land had I only not picked up the wine?  Though no lasting damage exists there still is a residue of shame within my bosom.  I bring this experience to the water plant debacle.  I must maintain my loyalty to the taxpayers who did and did not vote for me.  I must serve their best interest.  How can I live with myself if I begin to compromise my judgement?  How can I listen to the citizens of Shenandoah if there are other agendas or pressures whispering to me?

I believe the Founding Fathers of this great country had integrity of heart.  Many have died either by mandate or penniless or in rags because they felt and acted on that God-given integrity.  Because of them this nation is raised up and also prepared the world for greatness and also before-unimaginable prosperity in innovation and technology.   This nation was prepared to exalt mankind into a new kind of greatness.  I believe that leaders on all levels in this country need to heed the call of integrity and selfless service.  Only then can our judgments be justified and sanctified before God, ourselves and those whom we are called and voted to represent.

These words I speak only of my mind and not to degrade or praise the character and judgments of any other city official.

New Shenandoah Water Plant

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.