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CITY NOTES: Cooperation, dedication gets good work done

27_OP_Keith StarrBy Keith Starr  |   Charles City Councilman

Each morning, I listen to the national news on the radio and often double check it on the television and in print. The last few months have been just nasty or rigged or whatever the word of the day is. Although we act like this is something new, history tells me that most major political campaigns have been run this way in some fashion or another.   

For a short time, I was blessed with satellite radio.   What I learned from that experience is that now seemingly the most narrow point of view can find an audience and if repeated often enough, and in some cases loudly enough, it actually begins to sound like the truth. 

In the five years of elected government that I have participated in, I have found that the most gets done when we work together to determine what the needs are and then meet them. The four council members that I work with along with the mayor and paid officials are the most dedicated group I have met. Do they disagree on issues? Absolutely. Do they reach out to citizens and specialists in the field to resolve conflict? They certainly do.

I have been very pleased with the cooperative spirit between the county and the city. At this time the two groups are entering into a study to see how a combined law enforcement center might operate. I am fully supportive of a complete review of how that may turn out.    

About every three years the city leaders meet to set goals they would like to achieve in the next 36 months. This fall we will again evaluate the options.  What surprised me the most when I looked at the goals from three years ago is how many the city has actually accomplished. These include things like the rental inspections, nuisance ordinance enhancement, and animal ordinance. Of course it also includes less glamorous things like lining sewers and checking for water leaks. 

I am looking forward to the opportunities that the next three years will hold. With the growth of industry that we are seeing, I believe that we are well-positioned for more housing and generally a vibrant economy. Although change is hard, I hope that our biggest complaint in that time is that parking is harder to find than it used to be. 

Keith Starr is a member of the Charles City Council.

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