New Search
co~vE sME~rs e <br /> really delve into the details of the city and county responsibilities. I have a new respect for those city <br /> and county officials who are willing to take a surprising amount of verbal accusation and even abuse <br /> while continuing to apply their skills to the challenges of governing, not the least of which is hours and <br /> hours of their after-dinner time to long and even boring meetings. Not once have I witnessed impatience <br /> or inappropriate retorts to some of the belligerence displayed by some citizens who sit in on the <br /> meetings. The attempt to garner input from the public at two gatherings at North Eugene High School <br /> was particularly difficult for me personally because of the wrong ideas so many have about what we <br /> have been trying to accomplish. I felt demeaned by the attitudes aimed at us on the committee meetings <br /> by just about everyone who spoke at the open mike time. I was very surprised by the acrimony and by i <br /> the utterly erroneous ideas most speakers had. I have come away with personal enlightenment about all <br /> this, that's for certain. <br /> If I could persuade the city and/or county to invest in any one tool for improving the atmosphere of the <br /> public meetings, I would urge hiring of professional mediators to facilitate the human communication <br /> difficulties I witnessed. Of course, most of the problems which we were looking at almost always came <br /> down to lack of funds so that might not be an option, but perhaps some professional teachers, clerics and <br /> psychologists might be able and willing to donate some of their expertise to this pervading problem. <br /> From my limited perspective, I do not see how much progress is possible without plain and simple better <br /> communication with citizens who come outswinging in public meetings. The other challenge, related to <br /> communication, is how in the world to educate a distracted and apathetic citizenry. I'm sure these <br /> observations are not at all new to those involved in the local politcal scene, but I hope my input might be <br /> a catalyst to some discussion about addressing and resolving this tremendous detriment to progress in <br /> <br /> . our community. <br /> Nothing good has come or can come from island annexation. It has created an ugly patchwork of service <br /> providers or lack of providers and a host of other really bad ingredients for a community's health and <br /> longevity. Under this system, we are devoid of political representation and our quality of life is at stake. <br /> I truly appreciate the gesture in creating and staffing this committee as well as the idea to have those <br /> community members that are directly affected participate in a solution to island annexation and service <br /> delivery problems that stem from multiple service providers. However, residents didn't ask to be in the <br /> position they are in now and options are limited given current state laws and Metroplan rules and <br /> regulations. The situation we now face is a political blunder stemming from some bad policy decisions <br /> and complicated land use laws. We can only rectify the past with apro-active political approach <br /> utilizing sound and informed decision-making and then swift and deliberate action. <br /> 56 <br /> <br />