|
|
|
THE ISSUE: Moving our community ahead
OUR STANCE: A citizens advisory group can be a huge benefit
Several months ago Shawnee city commissioners indicated they were contemplating appointment of some type of citizens advisory committee. In fact, the idea surfaced one evening during the commissioners’ comment portion when Vice Mayor Pam Stephens chaired a meeting during a rare absence of Mayor Linda Peterson.
The issue also came up during a meeting a few weeks later, and there were brief discussions. To date, however, the commission has not moved any further along on the idea.
For the most part, this commission has seemed to get along pretty well, better than some of its predecessors. However, recently it appears there is a division beginning among some of the commissioners.
Commissioners face a multitude of challenges ahead of them. They can look at these as opportunities to move the community ahead, or instead they can choose up sides between them and soon they will be in a rut with little being accomplished.
This may be the perfect time for the commission to embrace the concept of a citizens advisory committee. We have suggested this previously, and commissioners themselves seemed to favor the idea. For some reason, though, it has lost steam and that’s a little disappointing.
Some of the commissioners several months ago even voiced a possible process to establish an advisory committee. They were mentioning each of the commissioners might select a couple people from each of their wards, and the mayor might choose a couple from throughout the city, too.
It sounded like a great idea back in the summer, and today it still does. Commissioners can utilize that diverse group as a sounding board and to assist them with input from the citizenry.
Fresh ideas from citizens on various issues facing the community might serve a couple of purposes. They can provide input and help recommend solutions. They can be a sounding board and help commissioners remain focused, rather than getting bogged down in petty politics.
Recently, a guest editorial by Cody Deem and a letter to the editor by Gerhard Laule expressed disappointment that commissioners turned down a request to appoint a similar advisory group from Sustainable Shawnee.
Not entirely sure why commissioners opposed the idea, but in listening to some of the discussions it seemed there was confusion among the commission and some expressed concern if this would be a duplication of the citizens advisory committee earlier discussed.
Formation of a citizens group would allow input on some of the critical issues identified more than two years ago during community-wide meetings and later presented formally to commissioners.
An advisory group can provide valuable assistance to commissioners and city staff as they work through the tough issues which lie ahead for our community.
Commissioners and citizens working together can provide the solutions to meet the challenges, maintain progress and move our community ahead in a positive direction.
THE ISSUE: Moving our community ahead
OUR STANCE: A citizens advisory group can be a huge benefit
Several months ago Shawnee city commissioners indicated they were contemplating appointment of some type of citizens advisory committee. In fact, the idea surfaced one evening during the commissioners’ comment portion when Vice Mayor Pam Stephens chaired a meeting during a rare absence of Mayor Linda Peterson.
The issue also came up during a meeting a few weeks later, and there were brief discussions. To date, however, the commission has not moved any further along on the idea.
For the most part, this commission has seemed to get along pretty well, better than some of its predecessors. However, recently it appears there is a division beginning among some of the commissioners.
Commissioners face a multitude of challenges ahead of them. They can look at these as opportunities to move the community ahead, or instead they can choose up sides between them and soon they will be in a rut with little being accomplished.
This may be the perfect time for the commission to embrace the concept of a citizens advisory committee. We have suggested this previously, and commissioners themselves seemed to favor the idea. For some reason, though, it has lost steam and that’s a little disappointing.
Some of the commissioners several months ago even voiced a possible process to establish an advisory committee. They were mentioning each of the commissioners might select a couple people from each of their wards, and the mayor might choose a couple from throughout the city, too.
It sounded like a great idea back in the summer, and today it still does. Commissioners can utilize that diverse group as a sounding board and to assist them with input from the citizenry.
Fresh ideas from citizens on various issues facing the community might serve a couple of purposes. They can provide input and help recommend solutions. They can be a sounding board and help commissioners remain focused, rather than getting bogged down in petty politics.
Recently, a guest editorial by Cody Deem and a letter to the editor by Gerhard Laule expressed disappointment that commissioners turned down a request to appoint a similar advisory group from Sustainable Shawnee.
Not entirely sure why commissioners opposed the idea, but in listening to some of the discussions it seemed there was confusion among the commission and some expressed concern if this would be a duplication of the citizens advisory committee earlier discussed.
Formation of a citizens group would allow input on some of the critical issues identified more than two years ago during community-wide meetings and later presented formally to commissioners.
An advisory group can provide valuable assistance to commissioners and city staff as they work through the tough issues which lie ahead for our community.
Commissioners and citizens working together can provide the solutions to meet the challenges, maintain progress and move our community ahead in a positive direction.
