For the first time in many years, Thursday afternoon while videoing the county council committees – promise and optimism for our community, warmly re-entered my veins. Although, unskilled, unprepared and struggling with difficult decisions, they were earnestly trying to do the right thing for Union County. As they labored, they appeared to be reaching out to the public for help. It’s obvious, the Union County Council needs the public’s input, participation and help.
Although the committee meetings were, overall, a disaster of magnificent and embarrassing proportions, there is a positive sign that the council with proper guidance, help and nurturing support from the public, training, direction, and a lot of work — will over time improve. They must realize they have the full compliment of Union County government resources at their disposal for research, consulting, and training to help them in preparation and the performance of their entrusted duties. They must start coming to the meetings fully prepared having the necessary documents ahead of time, researched and to have studied the agenda items and the associated documents. Importantly, they must manage and not fraternize with nor coddle to the supervisor – he works for them.
The supervisor was asked by a council person if the county had $20,000 to loan the Bonham Fire Department. First, the finance committee should know, have access and be current, at all times, to all accurate county finances – expenditures (with receipts) and account balances. They must ensure there are adequate financial checks and balances in place. Good business practices dictate, the committee should not rely on the word of mouth of the supervisor. The committee (each member) must be accountable for all county finances. Also, taxes and extreme prudent spending, especially for fiscal 2009-2010, must be of paramount importance in this time of economic depression and the public and special interest must understand and accept that.
All committee members must be familiar with county ordnances and use the correct and up-to-date one when making critical decisions, i.e. an outdated county road specifications was used in the meeting.
It is not a good practice to “pass the buck” to a private citizen to do research for the committee – the committee should do it themselves. When the committee declares they will do something, they should also give a time, on record, when this effort is expected to be started, done, and completed.
Firm and realistic time frames must be given to all assigned committee tasks. There were recommendations made that “the council should do better at educating the public”, i.e. zoning, animal control, and etc., but no commitment was made – leaving an empty promise – lip service - a waste of precious time. The committee should commit to creating the necessary ordnances, i.e. animal control – but again no commitment or final action taken – a waste of precious time.
It has been said that it takes county council 30 days to make an instant cup of coffee … these committee meetings certainly didn’t help to dispel that myth.
It is very important the council committees be trained and retrained in how to conduct effective meetings. A civics class given by USC-Union would also be helpful.
The public must be given the opportunity and encouraged to participate in the committee meetings. Open public hearings must be offered and encouraged. The videoing of all public meetings, a tool to constructively inform, educate, and empower the community – should be fully taken advantage of. The Union Connection, Channel 14 PEG should be utilized immediately and all city, county, and school district public meetings videoed for the people and offered on channel 14 and the Union County Carnegie Library DVD loan system.
Our elected officials need the support and involvement of all the citizens, especially the youth, of Union County. There is no doubt, once the public engages and observes for themselves our local officials doing government business, on video or in person, our government standards will be raised and corruption will be eliminated while our community will start to prosper.
David Fant
Union
Post a Comment
