Hey council!

By Bob Belcher

December 25, 2007 11:45 pm

— Seems like only yesterday we turned the calendar over to New Year’s Day, 2007.
It also seems like, if you blinked, you missed the 2007 experience — that’s how fast the year has flown by in my mind. Yet, we’ve made it to another Christmas and New Year week relatively unscathed, with challenges aplenty remaining in our little town.
This year saw voters bringing in some new faces (but not running off any old ones), approval of a big bond package designed to make our town better, some spats over procedures and protocol, some very sad stories to report, some positive news on the educational front, a new high-tech company in town, and plenty of “buzz” for the future.
This past week saw some democracy in action — or inaction, depending on your point of view — on the city front with the hiring of a “bond project coordinator” to oversee Corsicana’s street bond program, one likely to stretch out for several years. I mentioned in this space last week my concerns over the way we got to the destination of a hiring decision. That being behind us, I hope something was learned on “both sides” of the fence that was being straddled. And I hope that knowledge is retained in future matters involving the taxpayer’s money.
That being behind us (hopefully) ...
At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce last week former resident Kelly Cofer presented a retail trade analysis to city leaders and chamber members that came with a “good news/bad news” theme. We’re doing OK — but we can do a lot better. That same could probably be said of most any town or county our size. Hearing it, though, from someone “outside” who has been “inside” hopefully will lend a little more credence to what he had to offer. I hope our leaders — governmental and business folk alike — will take this report as a “call to action” instead of a “yeah, but ... ” report like so many we’ve heard in the past.
We’re at the point where we can’t afford to ignore or down-play some of the suggestions offered to make Corsicana and Navarro County a better place to build a business, factory, industry or even new home. All the bond money in the recently passed proposal won’t do us a bit of good if we still don’t “look good” to the unannounced visitor looking to invest in the area. There are likely plenty of those who have heard that Corsicana is a good place to do business, and came down to check it out for themselves without asking city leaders for a “guided tour” that will obviously show all the good points while skipping streets with “less than desirable” sights and pavement.
When we tolerate an 18-wheeler parking lot one block north of a major highway and one block east of the downtown district — we’ve got a problem. When we allow impromptu car lots to spring up in front yards (one such private residence on Second Avenue had three cars advertised for sale last week) we’ve got a problem. And, when we’re more concerned about “sign setbacks” than we are beautification ... I think you see my point.
The tools to “clean up our act” are at our hands. Enforcement — across the board — is the only way to use them effectively. And if that takes more people and money, so be it. If I had to guess, the individual charged with overseeing code enforcement would welcome the help.
Recent history proves we need only agree on it to act.
We hired the bond coordinator, didn’t we?
How about it, kids?
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Bob Belcher is Managing Editor of the Daily Sun. His column appears on Wednesdays and Sundays. He may be reached by e-mail at belcher@corsicanadailysun.com.

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