Time for change
Dear editor:
It is interesting to note recent Sentinel-Record reports of the extravagance of our city manager callously spending our tax money. Over $55,000 to spruce up his office? Give us a break! Also interesting are the reports of a city board mentality that the city doesn’t have to respond to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, irrespective of whether it is a newspaper or the public making such requests. These actions are obviously inappropriate and, possibly, illegal.
Sadly, our city manager form of government allows such actions without consequences. This system of government also promotes a lack of accountability where the chief administrator of the city does not answer to the public and the board that directs his actions appears to not want the public informed. These facts are substantiated by the board ceasing to permit televised public commentary, continuously voting among themselves on huge multimillion dollar expenditures of our money, buying burned-out hotels, issues such as forced annexation, utility cost increases and tax increases without even considering allowing a vote by their citizens.
Although I have personally opposed previous efforts to change the city form of government, I am now convinced that it is time to change to a governmental system that allows for a strong mayor directly elected by and accountable to the citizens. This form would also allow for an elected city clerk and city attorney who would also be accountable to the public. The city manager form of city government has apparently also failed at the only other three cities in Arkansas still using it. Hot Springs, Arkadelphia and Hope continue to lose population, and Texarkana has all sorts of problems as evidenced by the recent firing of their city manager.
Think about it. Changing the current form of government may well be past due. Most cities have already done it. We will likely have to circulate a petition in order to require a vote. The city certainly won’t voluntarily allow us to vote on the issue or, apparently, any other issue without a successful petition drive.
While we’re at it, how about a petition to require that an autonomous board runs our utilities system, as most cities do. This method should remove the politics, improve inefficiencies, perform realistic planning, lower our utility bills and have an entity that answers to their customers. What a concept! Bob Driggers Hot Springs