It’s still quite a view from up here on the peak. It allows us to rock along and peek into public body meetings and, as Will Rogers said, see what the hired hands are up to.
We were very interested in this city council “agenda” meeting. That’s where the lads and lasses get together to see if personal agendas match up with the city’s needs before the group takes their act to the public. One item scheduled for discussion concerns an appeal from the individual wanting to make Grace Estate an event center.
That could create some creative conversation. Who knows? If there’s discussion, we might learn the definition of event and what determines one that is unacceptable. And it might even lead to a conversation that will define the term “bed and breakfast.” Seems that’s a bit of a sticking point since we might be needing a few of those for the influx of HGTV-inspired tourists. We might need to know soon.
More attention on our local constabulary is expected when Chief of Police Steve Cropper offers some officers for promotion. Three will be presented for promotion to sergeant, and the word from persons in the know is all have very good records. That might not meet muster with a couple of councilists, however.
We are told there’s a history of some sort between law and the disorderly that might cause the same kind of vote we see consistently when this body is asked to simply approve minutes of a council meeting. Before the governing body meets, maybe somebody needs to brush up on relationships and civil service rules.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get a tip on talks that followed the agenda meeting that allegedly centered on the city’s much discussed, but still dormant, policy and procedures manual. Apparently one counciler still has plenty of nits to pick over content. It must be tough to author a timeless document that is ambiguous enough to defy interpretation and still pass legal muster.
One might be forgiven for thinking this handbook will, sizewise, eventually become encyclopedic. There has been more time put into authoring this little document than Gen. Lew Wallace spent on “Ben Hur.” As the old saying goes, too many cooks spoil the broth. We can only imagine how the soup will finally taste when a group of politicians picks the content of the cauldron.
Something that befuddles yours truly is the age old question of whether it’s ignorance or apathy that presents the biggest problem in politics. Surveys show the most common answer among today’s voter is “I don’t know and I don’t care.” The don’t care part was on display Saturday last.
We were asked to go to the polls and decide a couple of issues including who would fill a vacancy on the 26th Judicial District Court. We’re happy to know an excellent choice will be seated, but we are more than a little consternated over the lack of interest generated for one of our most precious rights.
Final tallies show that just over 15 percent of registered voters in our beloved, progressive, actively involved and in-tune Webster Parish bothered to go to the ballot booth. But that could be reason to celebrate because only slightly more than 13 percent made the effort to vote in Bossier Parish. Such a shame.
Let’s applaud our 15 percent, and give an appropriate prize to those donotgivvadamns who make up the 85. For those who didn’t bother, you are hereby sentenced to 100 days community service cleaning those sweet little portable potties…with a toothbrush. An additional 100 days will be added each time you complain about any elected official.