If You Were A County Commissioner?
In July, we focused our question of the month on our Marion County commissioners. If you are interested in reviewing the July blog activity (comments, etc.), please click on Archives--July.
We received several postings expressing your opinions about the job being done by our five county commissioners. The comments generally covered a range of “good job” and “bad job” dialogue about the county commission.
This month, we are continuing our discussion about the county commission but in a different way. We have a follow-up question:
If you were a county commissioner for one day, with unlimited authority, what would you do?
We know that some of the county commissioners are periodically visiting our Politically Homeless blog. They might be interested in getting our feedback on the above question. Also, we encourage individual commissioners, or other public officials, to post their comments on issues we are discussing.
Visits and postings to our blog are kept anonymous (unless you specify otherwise). We can not track ISP addresses or anything like that. We only receive a count of the number of people visiting our blog, but not who is visiting. So feel secure in using our blog.
Let’s hear from as many of you as possible with your viewpoint concerning our August
question. Just click on Comments below and give everyone your thoughts.
Blog Master
posted by Blog Master @ 7:12 AM
38 Comments:
I would change the meetings to evenings so the working folks can attend. All you see at the morning meetings are the seniors and political mouthpieces (Glass, Strait, etc.) who can attend anytime they want.
Place a one year moratorium on all new construction and set up of new mobile homes. Reexamine impact fees with an eye to substantial increases at the end of the one year.
I would prepare and distribute an annual or twice a year report to the citizens concerning the commission's accomplishments. Soemthing similar to what Sheriff Dean did during his last campaign.
Establish a general purpose advisory committee to be used just by the County Administrator as his sounding board on the many issues impacting county residents that he must deal with. He needs more involvement and input from our citizens, rather than just accepting direction from the Commissioners.
I would bring in an outsider, familiar with other county's workings, and evaluate our performance as it compares with other counties of similiar population. Impact fees, building inspection delays, permits, and such needs to be on the table.
Charles’ approach is what business calls benchmarking performance. The outstanding businesses find out what their very best competitors are doing and try to beat that performance, in all aspects (finance, manufacturing, marketing, etc.). My experience with government organizations is that they do not have any good measures or standards of what is outstanding performance. Consequently, they are constantly striving toward mediocrity rather than excellence. Find me a government organization that approaches measuring performance the way business does and I’ll show you one that taxpayers will love!
I would give voters the opportunity to pick a charter form of county governemt to replace the current one. This would give our well paid and qualified county administrator and his department heads the ability to do their jobs without excessive managing by commissioners. It would also benefit the taxpayers by reducing commissioners salaries and benefits in line with those paid in charter governments.
I would require that the county administrator have a stronger public information office and I would give him the money to do this. We need more attention to promoting our county to businesses that might move here. Can’t just depend on the EDC to do this. We need more “good jobs” in this county.
I have heard that Hillsborough County has one of the best run county governments in the state. I believe they are also a charter government structure. Perhaps our county could learn from them.
John, I like your idea about an advisory commitee for General Howard. It might step on the toes of some other county advisory committees or perhaps just replace a few of them that are not that useful anymore.
I would tell the libary head to take the book “Eat Me” out of our libraries. I think many taxpayers would thank me for this.
Mary Ann: I doubt the taxpayers would thank you when the county lost an expensive lawsuit for censorship that the taxpayers would have to pay.
Perhaps encouragement to better parenting and teaching children how to make good decisions might carry more weight than telling parents the county commissioners will decide what is best for your children. We will decide what is best for children because as parents you are too stupid to do so. This may not be what the current county commission intended, but it is where they landed.
Mary Ann removed the book Eat Me from our library—well I would put it back in. Many taxpayers would thank me for this. Now, enough about library books—what a waste of commissioner’s time.
If I were a Commissioner for a day I would order a stop to the forming of anymore MSTUs. It seems every funding problem has to be solved by an MSTU being formed.
The change to morning commission meetings suggested above would help, but is not likely to ever happen. I would set up five town hall meetings (evenings) each year, one in each commission district. All commissioners would be required to attend and listen to the concerns of residents. I think Commissioner Payton does something like this in his district. It is needed on a wider scale.
I have been learning more about the charter form of government. I know a county referendum was presented on this years ago and it failed--by a narrow margin. I would like to see this pursued again.
I would also do the town hall meetings. I like the way Cliff Stearns does this in several locations in the county.
Fire the county administrator and hire Randy Harris. I’m dead serious. Harris would be a great county administrator. No one knows county government better than him and I think he is getting bored and frustrated as a commissioner.
I like the suggestion above. As a republican, I have never voted for Harris. However, I think he might make a good County Administrator. He would have to make quite a few adjustments in his style but given the fact he would have some good people supporting him that is possible. He would be a bull dog on controlling spending and pushing back on the Commissioners on important decisions. Something that is needed.
Hey, crazier things than this can happen. Look at George Albright.
I am looking at George Albright and what do I see . . . someone who lied during the campaign when he promised to keep Mac Olson's people on board -- George even called them "family" as he attacked Bob McCall, claiming McCall would disrupt the"family". George is shooting for higher office, like Congress when and if Stearns quits.
I would not allow the county administrator to hire a replacement for Janet Tutt as Assistant County Administrator. Use the money for salary increases for the county staff or to hire some “worker level” employees for the county.
some financial planning assistance would be of great help to the county. they are getting into much the same situation as the school board. too many needs for money and not enough sources.
I would do something to recognize the contribution and hard work of our county employees. They seem to receive more criticism than credit for good work. I would, at my own expense, have a Saturday afternoon barbeque and fun-filled event for all county employees. This will sound “hokey” to some of our local government critics, but I bet it won’t to the county staff.
Tom, You would be popular with many county staff. Your idea isn't "hokey", we would appreciate it. We get more flack than compliments most of the time.
Reestablish the county library advisory board.
Things are going just fine at the library without the library advisory board. Let's keep it that way.
Reconsider borrowing to help fund some of the county's major financial needs.
George,
Don't you know it is almost a sin to mention the word "bonds"! This is a conservative community and we always pay as we go.
I didn't mention the word "bonds". However, that is one option that is going to have to get some serious consideration. Randy Harris may blow a fuse, but the alternatives are few.
We need more and better paying jobs. What we have now is something I saw on another blog called "poverty by design". Look at the economic situation many people in New Orleans. That could be us. Educate and employ--these actions go hand in hand.
Respectfully, I do not believe it is the county's duty or obligation to motivate, educate or employ. That is for other branches of Government.
I believe Marion County can be compared to a big restaurant. By the service we provide, the fare we offer, and the atmosphere we create, we select our customers.
If I were a commissioner I would raise impact fees so the money would be there to provide good roads, schools, and such. If, as a byproduct, some financially challenged people (or tightwads) decided that it was too expensive to live in an area with good roads, so be it.
I would seriously consider a sales tax. Most of our neighbors have it, and everyone pays his/her share.
I would use the money to provide better roads (quality and quantity) and clear the roads of junk, flotsam and jetsam, such as illegal signs, semi trucks using the right of way for weekend parking, and mow the hell outta it frequently.
I would require more from developers. Curbs, sidewalks, landscaped entrances, streetlights and the like do not seem out of order.
I would require more from businesses. When Fatsoburger comes to town I want his "A" plans, with hidden dumpsters, ample parking, landscaped lots with maintenance, tasteful signage, roadway setbacks, and polite lighting that doesn't glare into the street, or the neighbor's window.
And finally, I would get outta the library censorship business.
Hey Charlie, run for Commissioner and you will get my vote!
Charles, our county may be like a giant restaurant. However, if you have a poor menu and constantly don’t comply with food service regulations, you are going to have no customers and/or be shut down. My point, our county has no special menu or quality service to offer to potential customers. That’s why I said we are approaching “poverty by design”.
Samual, I resprctfully suggest we do have a special menu. We have
1. Good climate.
2. Small town charm, ambiance, and outstanding proximity to a lot of recreation, entertainment, such as beaches, hunting, Rat World, golf, sports, both professional and college....
3. Way low cost of living.
4. Minimal pollution.
We just need to improve some of our neglected dinner items, and look to add soup.
Charles, we are on the same page concerning what our restaurant should be. The only difference we have is how to get there. I appreciate your comments.
Borrowing to finance major county projects! I believe we heard this from Rock Gibboney when he ran unsuccessfully against Randy Harris a few years ago. Could it be that Rock was more correct than Harris?
Rock Gibboney lost that election because his ego was so big he thought he had it won and actualy quit the last two or three weeks, just when Harris was getting started and left Rock in the dust.
Hi folks, I have just been given this web and whilst I am no longer in the cesspool of the corrupt goings on in Marion County I must say I find it interesting that it's business as usual, (dirty Business) Vicious mean spirited cowards who hide behind their lies and innuendos in an attempt to undermine those doing a good job for 'we the people'
God is good and he always takes
care of his own and no one can take that away from any of us.
Footnote: I left Florida for a better and kinder place and I thank God for giving me that vision! Political mouthpiece and proud of it if that's what it took to get your attention and it obviously worked, right?
BTW, the evening meetings were tried some time ago and the attendance was just as bad!!!
Patty
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