While dining recently with friends at the new Panera Bread on Coronado Drive, the discussion turned to how vibrant our city has become since the addition of just a few new restaurants and shops. The parking lots were almost full and each of the nearby establishments was hopping with business.
We all agreed that it was encouraging to see busy shops and restaurants, and exciting to see them succeeding. As new stores and restaurants continue to open we will have even more opportunities to be proud of our city as we see quality growth, in spite of the national economic situation.
Several friends have recently commented to me that they were surprised that my articles seemed to be very complimentary of Mayor Carson Ross. While Mayor Ross was my opponent in the last election, I have a great deal of respect for him, and have found that he and I have similar goals for our community. Both of us want to see Blue Springs prosper and under Mayor Ross’ leadership, that common goal is coming to fruition. For that I am very thankful and very supportive.
By writing about what is happening in Blue Springs, I hope to encourage our elected leadership and to help our citizen’s stay informed about the good things that are happening in our town. While we, as citizens, may not always agree with the decisions made at city hall, it’s important that we engage our elected representatives in respectful, productive dialogue regarding our views and our goals.
From my discussions on the doorsteps of thousands of Blue Springs homes, I know that our citizens desire leaders that are willing to make changes to the outdated policies of the past. Over the last five years you, our citizens, have made many changes in our elected leadership. These choices have changed the nature of decision making in our city and improved the process of governance in Blue Springs.
Televising council meetings and broadcasting them on the internet has made our city council’s actions much more transparent than in the past.
Our citizens are watching our council meetings and see firsthand how their leaders are performing. The leaders who are flexible, open minded and fiscally responsible are moving our community forward. By watching the council meeting broadcasts, it’s easy to tell who is making a difference. Remember, our next city election is only 10 months away and we will each have a choice to make.
We all want a city that will weather the nation’s current economic storm and come out stronger in the end. It remains an honor for me to participate in some small measure in that process. I look forward with anticipation to the bright future of our city.
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