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THE ISSUE: Challenges and opportunities lie ahead
OUR STANCE: Commissioners are on the right path
Water and sewer rates are going to increase. Unfortunately, the city’s infrastructure needs in this area have mounted over the years and the projects identified are crucial to Shawnee having a safe water system and providing adequate sewer service as well.
Residential and commercial customers will have to ante up in order to pay for more than $55 million in capital needs related to water and sewer.
Shawnee city commissioners are faced with the daunting task of determining just how much the increases will be and how quickly those rate hikes will go into effect. With recommendations from city staff, they also will be deciding on the most feasible way to finance the projects and will help establish the priorities which will be subject to adjustments.
City commissioners have plenty on their plates. In addition to the city and sewer projects, which include a list of 81 items, they are working on the proposed regional sports complex, right-of-way is being secured for the $10 million plus Kickapoo Street reconstruction, and the list of city road infrastructure needs is exhaustive.
If that isn’t enough, the commission and staff also are dealing with a tight budget which projects flat revenues for the new fiscal year which begins on Wednesday.
In fact the city sales tax collections for May and June were down over the same months a year ago, and total sales tax dollars will finish the current year off pace from what was projected.
There is a silver lining, though, in all of this. Even though the commissioners face a multitude of challenges, these can be turned into opportunities.
This city commission is getting along better than many of its predecessors. They seem to strive for consensus, looking for solutions, rather than looking for strife and ways to argue. That doesn’t mean they may always agree on everything, but at least they seem to respect one another and agree to disagree.
They appear to look at the city manager and his staff for guidance, leaning on their expertise and expecting to hear recommendations. Whether they agree with those all of the time is not what is important.
At least they look at those paid public servants as those whose job it is to provide the information, knowing that as commissioners it’s their responsibility to make the tough decisions.
To further help with the process, this may be the perfect time to form a citizens advisory committee.
This is an idea we have suggested previously, and that commissioners themselves recently seemed to embrace.
During one of the commission meetings, it was mentioned that 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.
Sounds like a great idea to us, and commissioners can utilize that diverse group as a sounding board and to assist them with input from the citizenry.
Tough decisions lie ahead, but commissioners and such an advisory group working together can provide the solutions necessary to help Shawnee and this area maintain and move ahead with progress and growth.
THE ISSUE: Challenges and opportunities lie ahead
OUR STANCE: Commissioners are on the right path
Water and sewer rates are going to increase. Unfortunately, the city’s infrastructure needs in this area have mounted over the years and the projects identified are crucial to Shawnee having a safe water system and providing adequate sewer service as well.
Residential and commercial customers will have to ante up in order to pay for more than $55 million in capital needs related to water and sewer.
Shawnee city commissioners are faced with the daunting task of determining just how much the increases will be and how quickly those rate hikes will go into effect. With recommendations from city staff, they also will be deciding on the most feasible way to finance the projects and will help establish the priorities which will be subject to adjustments.
City commissioners have plenty on their plates. In addition to the city and sewer projects, which include a list of 81 items, they are working on the proposed regional sports complex, right-of-way is being secured for the $10 million plus Kickapoo Street reconstruction, and the list of city road infrastructure needs is exhaustive.
If that isn’t enough, the commission and staff also are dealing with a tight budget which projects flat revenues for the new fiscal year which begins on Wednesday.
In fact the city sales tax collections for May and June were down over the same months a year ago, and total sales tax dollars will finish the current year off pace from what was projected.
There is a silver lining, though, in all of this. Even though the commissioners face a multitude of challenges, these can be turned into opportunities.
This city commission is getting along better than many of its predecessors. They seem to strive for consensus, looking for solutions, rather than looking for strife and ways to argue. That doesn’t mean they may always agree on everything, but at least they seem to respect one another and agree to disagree.
They appear to look at the city manager and his staff for guidance, leaning on their expertise and expecting to hear recommendations. Whether they agree with those all of the time is not what is important.
At least they look at those paid public servants as those whose job it is to provide the information, knowing that as commissioners it’s their responsibility to make the tough decisions.
To further help with the process, this may be the perfect time to form a citizens advisory committee.
This is an idea we have suggested previously, and that commissioners themselves recently seemed to embrace.
During one of the commission meetings, it was mentioned that 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.
Sounds like a great idea to us, and commissioners can utilize that diverse group as a sounding board and to assist them with input from the citizenry.
Tough decisions lie ahead, but commissioners and such an advisory group working together can provide the solutions necessary to help Shawnee and this area maintain and move ahead with progress and growth.
