MAYOR'S MESSAGE

Mayor’s Corner

Where to begin?  So much to say and so little space!  Ok, that is enough of that…I’ll pick up where I left off last time, talking about how to clean up our city.  I decided that if I wanted everyone’s help, I needed to set the example, so I’ve spent about 100 hours on our small, ineffective sweeper.  It isn’t the sweeper’s fault; it wasn’t designed to do what I wanted it to do.  I can tell you this….I picked up ten 50 gallon trash bags full of litter.  I could not believe the junk people toss out of their car windows!  I think what upset me the most was that I would spend hours cleaning a street and the very next day it was back to the way it was!  As you know, my mission is to stop the downward trend of our community.  I plan to hold a Town Hall Meeting on January 8, 2009 to get your input on how to stop this trend.  I have been told that town hall meetings will not work…that no one will show up.  I don’t believe that.  I know that I am not the only person in Everman that feels this way.  I will have the City Manager, Public Works Director and Code Enforcement present, along with anyone else you may want at the meeting.  I want you to get your questions answered and your opinions heard.  We will come out of this meeting with a plan of action.  I will be reminding you of the date in your January water bill and with a phone call, so start thinking about a solution to our problem.  This is not a city government problem, it is a community problem, and should be solved by the community. 

We should have a new president elected by the time you read this.  I hope so, I’m so tired of all the bull!  It would be nice if we could find one person who told the truth and wanted to work for the people instead of his or her party.  Wishful thinking on my part.  The holiday season will be here before we know it; our Community Tree Lighting will take place on December 4, 2008 at 6 PM.  So, on behalf of all our city employees and Council, Beverly and I wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season! 

Till next time…..

Jim Stephenson, Mayor