The Mayor's Column                         2-17-10 

Sometimes no matter what you hope will happen, the opposite occurs.  Recently we have had to deal with employment issues.  Without being specific it goes without saying that there are times when you as Mayor wish the issue had not occurred.  I point this out only because we are all human and from time to time may wish we had not done or said something.  The City is no different than any other entity which has personnel performing the tasks. 

The Board of Alderman is a great group to work with when dealing with delicate personnel issues. By sharing the issue with the Board, often the matter is handled quickly and efficiently.  Other times it takes a bit longer!

The City is for now on budget, therefore unlike the KC School District, no ‘closings’ are anticipated.  The winter has been long, thus, overtime hours have been a factor.  I’ve received emails complimenting our snow crew as they have done a good job keeping the roads of the City open, even in the heaviest of the snow.  Again, your mill levy increase allowed a new truck, blade and salt spreader to be purchased just in time for the storms.  Simply an example of how your money is being spent.  Thank you again.

On a Personal Note:

Some have emailed me worrying that I might have decided not to write an article (I missed the last issue).  Never fear, it is very hard to make an attorney who trusts in the Lord to shut up.  Actually, I was in Phoenix, AZ visiting Becky (my fiancée) doing “honey do” projects.  When I shared with her my excuse, she stated she could not think of one!  I quickly reminded her that in response to “Honey would you go outside and pick some oranges for our breakfast”; I immediately did so without complaint.  I did so again when I was requested to pick grapefruit from her sisters tree next door (a much longer walk I must point out)!

Anyway, the warm weather in Arizona was a welcome reprieve from one of the longest and maybe coldest winter I can remember.  Yet we know that spring flowers will emerge in the not too distant future.  Since I’m writing this on Valentine’s Day, I was reminded of verse twelve “…faith, hope, and love abide,…but the greatest of these is love”.