Trending
Editor, News-Register:
After all of the letters to the editor that I've written, concerning our mayor and city council, I finally realized the letters all have a common thread. That common thread is "money management" or, more accurately, the lack thereof.
Now, you and I learn money management the hard way. If we are on a fixed, or limited income, and decide to frivolously buy something that is not absolutely essential, we end up in debt or cutting back on something that is essential to our survival. This is not true when it comes to our city leaders; after all, they just have to increase taxes or enact new taxes.
I believe the mayor and city council have failed to follow, "Managing public money principles" (The Corporate Governance Code) which are "honesty, impartiality, openness, accountability, accuracy, fairness, integrity, transparency, objectivity, and reliability, and carried out in the spirit of, as well as to the letter of, the law; in the public interest, to high ethical standards, and achieving value for their money." I ask you, is the following good money management and public service? Under our current city administration, the new parks and recreation director was quoted as saying he wanted to charge all of the Little League teams a fee to use the public ball fields. I sent an email to the mayor, council, and the city manager seeking a clarification, denial, or confirmation of this proposal. The only response I got was from Councilman Palmer who said, "I am not in favor of charging the local teams for our ball fields nor have I been part of any discussion to charge for same." The other parties failed to provide any response, however, I did get an irate call from the parks and recreation director telling me that I should contact him, and I should not go directly to the mayor and council, that he doesn't work for council, he works for the city manager, and we don't have one at this time. (This is not a direct quote, but is accurate as to content and delivery).
The point I'm trying to make is we're wasting hundreds of thousands, nay millions of dollars, in trying to move forward with a non-essential parking garage, and a new public safety building; and at the same time trying to squeeze hundreds of dollars from little league teams to supplement the city's cash flow. What's wrong with this picture? By the way, hats off to the little league organizations in our city, and to the volunteers, coaches, and parents that provide our children with the equipment, uniforms, coaching, and support they need to interact as a team and develop their social skills.
Will Rogers said it best: "There are men running governments who shouldn't be allowed to play with matches."
Hope springs eternal!
J. Jacobs
Wheeling