Well, here's an interesting story about Lavon 'politics'.
When the incumbent mayor first took office, her first 'official' action was to propose an ordinance that people be fined for not moving their trash containers back from the street before sunrise the day after trash day. Yes, a high-priority, critical strategic issue. BTW, the ordinance died for lack of a seconded motion.
What makes this so laughable is that this same mayor has now teamed up with one of our newest, and most pontificating, council persons to try and abolish the position in the Marshal's office that is responsible for code enforcement (things like swimming pools w/o child fences, yards that have gone to weed and are a foot or taller, TRASH CAN VIOLATIONS, basically anything that is in violation of mostly city and county codes).
Now, it gets less humorous when one follows this to its logical conclusion; once upon a time, the Lavon Police were responsible for catching and reporting code violations. As a witness to the process, we can attest to the fact that code enforcement is a 40 hour per week job; the paperwork on the backend takes twice as long as just finding code violations.
If the position were eliminated, then we would lose 40 hours per week of officer patrol time to 'back fill' the code function. We have, by the skin of our teeth, at least 1 officer on patrol ALMOST 24 x 7 these days. As the only viable law enforcement agency in southeast Collin County, that should make us feel pretty good. But not if that one officer is tied up reporting city and county code violations.
So, where were we ? Oh, yes; the mayor wants MORE city codes, but wants to abolish the position that finds and follows them up with the property owners, and then wants to dump it on the PD so we have less patrol time.
The City Council appointed a long-time employee of the city to the position of City Manager last year. That manager is responsible for department reorgs, position requests, hiring, firing, etc. The Council absolved themselves of such responsibility, and gave it to the City Manager.
But some people just can't help tryin to fix what ain't broke, so's they can feel 'powerful' about themselves.
The MAJORITY of this City Council have nothing but the city's best interests at heart, with no personal agendas. We do NOT wish to paint the whole council with the same brush.
But as to the select few, why can't they do what we ELECTED them to do, and that is set the strategic direction of this city, and try SUPPORTING the hired staff that keep the city viable, instead of 'second guessing' them ?
Just request a copy of the City Council Minutes from October 13; and request the CD, NOT just the paper copy. It'll cost ya $5 for the CD, but it will tell you VOLUMES about this council.
Keep Boppin ....
