Dear Editor 8-18

August 18, 2010 by danfeuer
Filed under Bay Views

Dear Editor,

The Fairfield Bay City Council is commended for showing leadership by not passing the ordinance that would have expanded the authority of the City Code Enforcement Officer. Passage would have made the city less accommodating. The perception of contractors, other business people, prospective residents and residents is that the government has an in your face attitude that isn’t conducive to the growth the mayor says he desires.

Our city is composed of people who moved here to live in the peace and quiet of a retirement community free from the “do it our way or else” rules, laws and attitudes in the cities from whence they came. Such rules here are causing hostility, resentment and disgust on the part of many who are hammered by the codes and other laws, which at times seem unnecessary. We have lived here for many years without being cited for things that haven’t been any problem until a few in government decided to whip us into line for reasons not clearly understood.

If we are to grow, we must present a vision to people that this city is a community that is accommodating with a live and let live attitude in so far as possible. Granted, there are laws that need to be applied when necessary, but the heavy-handed method does not present an inviting and accommodating community. Another word that fits with accommodating and community is co-operation, which seems lacking as well.

While the present mayor has improved the infrastructure (at least according to him in a newspaper front-page campaign message), the leadership promoting good-will is sorely lacking. According to many, the attitudes of “lay the hammer to them” and “I’m right and you are wrong” are retarding growth. Hopefully, the refusal of the council to increase the powers of the COE will serve as a beginning wake-up call for all city employees.

A change in attitude is imperative if we are to grow in number; and if the present leaders cannot mend their ways, then a change, beginning at the top, is the only solution.

Donald E. Clem

Fairfield Bay

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