A MISSED OPPORTUNITY
This is a very good article and should be shared with as many citizens as possible. It gives clear examples of how our current structure leaves the city vulnerable.
The comparison of the three options I found to be helpful, as it allows the readers to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each option.
I do not believe there is any doubt that this city would benefit from a city manager. I believe our greatest issue is engaging our citizens and educating them on the benefits of the charter change. The true challenge is not “do we change,” but rather “what system do we employ to get the education to our citizens.”
I attended the city council meeting and feel that we missed an opportunity to have the best in the nation assist us in that specific area. Based upon the information gathered, a plan was developed by the Mason-Dixon Group, who has repeatedly been able to develop reliable and consistent results with proven success.
My one personal question is: What purpose does it serve to have the city council "research" when the "best practice" is to establish an Administrative Board to advise and facilitate city structure, procedures and operations management in anticipation of a new city charter.
That and that alone should be the city council’s next decision. The establishment of an Administrative Board to advise the city on next steps in order to present and pass a new city charter.
Melissa Simpson
GIVE UP ON ‘SMALL TOWN’ LABEL
I don't know why these old-school Crestview people don't understand that we're already not a small town! We haven't been a small town in years!
We are a bigger town with nothing available to its residents. Insufficient infrastructure, entertainment, dining, etc.
It's time to give up on the "small town" mentality
Shauna Preston
IS THIS PROPOSED POSITION A…
City manager or “let's hire someone with a huge salary that we can blame and fire if things go wrong so that we can get re-elected?”
David Hall
GET WITH THE TIMES
Are you serious? It is a military town; you got people coming and going all the time. I've only lived here a little under two years but this town outgrew its diaper a long time …
We are now in big boy, big girl underwear. This town flew way past the Pull-Ups.
If you can't get with the times, then get out of office.
Rachel Harris
WRONG TO USE PEOPLE AS PROPS
I wish Trump had the respect and basic decency to not use a recent widow as a political prop. I don't care who did what in the past; bring up Obama or Clinton or whatever, they were wrong too.
David Jenkins
OWENS WOULD RATHER BE LIVING
She was used to make people forget that he was responsible for the Seal’s death. The stupidity of saying he is in Heaven, amazed over breaking a record for longest ovation, is unreal.
I am sure he would much rather be alive than have an ovation for being dead.
Trump blamed everyone but the man at the top, who made this decision while having dinner. I would not have stood for that mockery, either.
Gwen Kimbro
GOD BLESS THE OWENS FAMILY
Trump was paying more respects towards the widow then any B.S. liberal … for not standing.
This is the respect that our military should receive present day, past and to all our veterans … respect which has been lost in the past 30 or more years due to the government in the past saying we have to kiss the parents’ fanny of children and the children while teaching them in all aspects of preschool to college (now).
We have raised a pampered society the last 30 years. It is time for these children to learn and prosper within society, and they do not know how to do it because of parents, education system and because they all know how to lie and manipulate anyone and everyone.
My respects to Mrs. Owens and her family! God Bless them!
Michelle Cook
GLOBAL WARMING FITS LIBERAL AGENDA
Good for Ron Hart having the courage to publicly stand up and eloquently shine light on the hysteria that is the climate change/global warming liberal agenda, that is more about power grabbing and population enslavement than it is about real conservation of natural resources.
Will Cantrell
WHY WE NEED REGULATIONS
Yes, we do have something to gain. A planet we can actually live on. Breathable air and water we don't have to filter.
You know, the things we need to survive.
How dumb can one person be? Also, the money spent is not so a caribou doesn't have to look at a pipeline; it’s so the caribou doesn't die from an oil spill … !
I’d like you to look at the people in Flint and tell them regulations aren't needed. Honestly, look them right in the face and say that, because I know they will spit on you.
We need regulations, so (stuff) like that doesn't happen.
Stephanie Wahner
CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT POLITICAL
The climate has always changed and has gone through periods of temperature changes and other shifts — fact.
Science has shown us that although these changes are considered normal, it's the rate that they are taking place. The climate is currently at an accelerated rate of change that is beyond the normal spectrum.
The need for change, for a look into cleaner energies or the rate of deforestation, for example, is not a liberal agenda but should be the agenda of every single person living on this planet who hopes to see it flourish for future generations to come.
More importantly, for our children.
Sadly, people have this idea that it's political. The planet has no time for politics.
Kasey McCoy
CONTRACT BRINGS EXTRA COST
Thank you, commissioners, for the new (Waste Management) contract that now increases my cost. I did not get that big of a raise in my monthly SSA check so I will remember you at the polls.
Gisela Harper
NOT SAD ABOUT SECTION 8
After what HUD has done to my neighborhood (drug dealing, break-ins, trash dumped whereever) I can’t say I’d be sad to see it go away, but more like throwing a BBQ and invite friends over on the weekend since they all work!
Becky Reeves
PREDICTION ABOUT LANDLORDS
At CPAC, Trump's guru, Steve Bannon, said, "We are dismantling the administrative state.” That means they are gutting funding for all government agencies, and HUD is at the top of their list. There won't be a Section 8 program four years from now. So I would not be sitting around waiting for a voucher; plus, even if you have one, no landlord is going to take them now that they know HUD is going to gutted.
Jeff Barnes
THOUGHTS ABOUT GUN CRIMES
I have no opinion regarding the policy change. However, the following statement does bother me: "more law-abiding people should receive firearms training to help fight crime."
NO.
This will not reduce either crime or violence, and until someone can produce convincing evidence otherwise, people in positions of authority should not misinform the public this way.
Civilians "fight" (i.e., help reduce) crime by being alert, observing details and contacting authorities sworn to "fight" crime when appropriate.
I've lived in or worked in 18 different countries, and overwhelmingly, lower numbers of guns and higher barriers to gun ownership correlate strongly to lower violent crime.
It isn't even close.
See South Korea, Japan, England or any other developed country with stronger gun laws.
Vince Ryder
KUDOS FOR HEALTH-CARE MEMBERSHIP PLANS
Blessings on your new business. Excited to see someone values human life more than money.
Patricia Christian
DESIGNATED GRAFFITI-LEGAL AREAS
Traffic is still the big issue! Who cares about spray paint! If you give these kids/artists a landmark to legally spray, like The Graffiti Bridge in Pensacola, we might have less of a problem. Very simple fix.
Chris Richards
GRAFFITI NEEDS TO STOP
There has been very limited graffiti activity in Crestview until recently. As someone stated, it's showing up in several places.
This is not artists showcasing talent. It is the work of vandals and it needs to stop.
It truly makes our town look trashy. I hope they are caught and prosecuted.
Shorty Mohon
OBAMACARE SHOULDN’T TAKE ALL THE BLAME
Um, how about we dial back the corporate cuts and congress raises. Let's not insult people's intelligence by claiming that this single program has built up all this debt.
Krista Gray Ladner
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HUBBUB: Thoughts on climate change, Crestview's city manager proposal