Attend Our Town Hall Meetings

Last night, I attended a meeting that made me so proud of our community I wanted to tell others about it. It was a town meeting at Ridgeview Baptist Church on Huntsville Road. The church opened their doors to the neighborhood and community for an hour and a half so that city staff could report on various activities as well as answer questions.

I got to hear Paul Becker explain the challenges of the city budget, Sharon Crosson share the ideas that are being proposed in regard to parking on Dickson Street, Connie Edmondston got us pumped up about all the summer events in our wonderful parks system and John Coleman had us swelling with pride as he described the recently passed LEED ordinance and the Ecological Fayetteville program.

There is so much happening in our community to be excited and proud about. Our city staff is working extra hard during stressful economic times. As citizens, sometimes we take for granted what a special place Fayetteville is. Sometimes we also take for granted the great jobs being done by city staff and city council.

These town hall meetings are very well run; they last to the minute one hour and a half. They are open to everyone, even if you don’t live in the ward in which it is being held. I want to encourage teachers to come and bring their students to the next one. I want to encourage representatives from neighborhoods to show up.

Such meetings are not happening in every community across the country, folks. Town hall meetings are your meetings, and I hope you will mark your calendar to attend the next one just as soon as the date is announced.

Louise G. Mann

Fayetteville

Categories: Commentary