The City of Sidney is conducting a comprehensive plan review and update. A copy of the survey can be found on the Council meeting notes for March 9th. Residents should receive one in the mail or should go to city hall and pick up a copy if you don't get one in the next few days.
A question on the survey was misreported in the Sun-Telegraph, who said "... if you’re a family with children living outside of Sidney, what could motivate you to move to town?"
The survey question stated: "If you have children who live outside of Sidney, what do you believe could motivate them to move to Sidney?"
To kind of answer that question, friends of mine are currently seeking a house outside the city limits specifically to reduce their tax burdens. A recent poll on theguardiannews found that the overwhelming majority of respondents felt tax relief, followed by spending reductions and job creation should be the priority needs of the community.
The accompanying letter from Mayor Dave Wiederspon details the uses for the survey results as providing input on various planning commission boards and future development plans for the city. He asks that all surveys be returned to the Panhandle Area Development District by March 15th. A stamped envelop is provided for the convenience of the sender.
People have been complaining recently that the Deadwood Trail and other prior projects seem to benefit the citizens south of the Santa Fe tracks. Citizens and candidates for office have talked about the overall value these projects have to the city, while blog entries abound about how unfair the city is in making people walk to the pool.
We have also heard about the vocal minority and the silent majority. I have news for you all. In democracies, silence means consent.
If those of you complain that the city focuses more with residents on one side of town versus the other, now is your chance to speak up.. If you are happy on the north side, don't fill out your surveys, or simply say you are satisfied with what you have so far. If you are unhappy or want a different direction, you should let your opinion be heard and not have the rest of the community dictate to you what your realities will look like. You should likewise engage the residents who might not read the newspaper or have computers to read blogs to encourage their participation in the survey and its results.
The same can be said for the upcoming elections. People have complained, verbally and in writing about many things that can be solved at the ballot box. The up coming elections will, in large measure, push this rhetoric to the side. With ten people vying for three Council positions, I would submit that if you don't like your current City Council, you will have ample opportunity to send a message. That message, along with the one conveyed in the survey will dictate the kind of town Sidney will be for probably the next 10 years.
It's your town, it's your voice, It's your call.
Michael Rowland, Publisher
I seen one of those surveys and you know what the funny there was no where that asked the question "What don't you like about Sidney" I wish they would use some grant money for repairing the pot holes in the streets instead of making a path to no where.
ReplyDeleteI think the purpose of the survey is to find out what people want, not what makes them unhappy. The question of streets is near and dear to a great many people in town and I would surmise that the survey respondents who believe this is more of a priority should place more emphasis on the streets vs. say the dog park.
ReplyDeletePot holes are part of the ongoing maintenance budget and explanations have been given about waiting till the moisture subsides to effect a longer lasting repair.
I don't know if grants are the answer, but we seem to have been left out of the stimulus package because we are apparently not, "shovel ready."
Maybe we all need to get our shovels
Question: When Sidney signed on to do the lottery and pickle cards, etc., were those funds supposed to help with roads/schools etc? I can not remember. Do you know?
ReplyDeleteI would need to dig a little deeper, but I believe that pickle cards are for local fire department fund raising efforts. The lotto is supposed to fund state education efforts.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if either has a component to go toward road projects.