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City staying ahead of infrastructure ball
By: MIKE PROBST, Editor & Publisher
Hats off to the Rockport City Council on its decision to spend what may seem like a lot of money to improve our infrastructure. Work will include the construction of an additional pipeline for transporting water to Rockport, a new elevated water tower, and a single office complex to house all things related to public works and development.
City leaders have hacked off a few folks during the years I’ve covered their meetings, but one thing we can be proud of is they have always bitten the bullet in order to stay ahead of the curve.
Regardless of how expensive a project may seem today, it won’t get cheaper tomorrow.
New councilman Paul Lippke cast the lone dissenting vote for the passage of the $10.3 million in certificates of obligation because he believes the new public works facility, to be located on city-owned property next to the new elevated water tower, is not a priority item at this time.
I respect his decision to vote in the manner he did, but I think saving a penny today because of the economy and paying a nickel tomorrow is not the way to go. The City’s improved bond rating, as well as current construction costs, are major factors which make this a good deal, today.
Locating all things related to development (utilities, permits, etc.) under one roof is a good thing in the long run and will make the work flow more smoothly for city staff, as well as for those using the services they provide.
Right now one has to run to city hall, then across the street to the building department which operates out of a leased building, and then over to public works, which seems, at times, to be secretly located somewhere north of city hall.
We don’t need our elected officials building lavish Taj Mahals, but we do need them to think in terms of long-term costs. The last thing we need is to get behind the ball when it comes to infrastructure.
Some cities are incapable of righting themselves once they fall behind. We don’t want to find ourselves in that situation in the future.
The coverage by the television networks and large daily newspapers of the protesters who marched on Washington Saturday, Sept. 12 would have been funny if it weren’t so sad.
If that doesn’t prove the networks and failing major metro newspapers aren’t in the tank with the current administration, nothing does.
One of the reasons given for the limited coverage, or disdain while being forced to cover such an event, was that it was “organized” by conservative groups, as if this group, or any other group would have just magically shown up at one place on a given day.
Duh!
Of course it was organized. Just as any protest movement is organized.
Let’s take the civil rights movement for example.
Wasn’t that organized?
Of course it was, and the long-term results can’t be questioned.
Do you think Martin Luther King’s speech would have been nearly as effective if he talked before the reflecting pond, wondering, “Where is everyone?”
There is no plausible reason for the major media outlets not covering the event ... unless journalism is all but dead at that level.
Of course, if you hate conservatism, then you think the lack of coverage is great. President Barack Obama’s staff is quoted as calling the protesters no big deal.
The networks and left-wing media outlets have done all they can to cover up the growing rage in this country over far-reaching government policies, but it won’t be enough to stop the growing rage in our country.
It has nothing to do with the color of our new President’s skin. It has to do with the direction in which the far left (regardless of color) is steering our country.
Our President’s talking heads can act like the protesters are a minor blip on the radar screen, just as many on the right failed to see the power of “organizing” a few years ago when Obama started his trek to the White House.
One has to hand it to him because he did one hell of a job getting elected.
However, I’m sure Obama and the other far left members in his party (remember, I don’t like the far left, or far right) know their time in office is limited, at least with the majorities they now have.
Why else does the largest expansion of government have to be approved so quickly?
It’s a plan, it’s very organized, and must be carried out quickly before all the major newspapers fail and network ratings continue their plummet.
If you don’t think the heartland has power, just remember the Contract for America which swept the Republicans into office a few years back. And, that was accomplished without major media in the tank.
But the plan has to meet the test of time, the test of tough questions.
We can’t change the world with great oratory alone.
The Republicans were swept out of office because they lost their conservative roots.
The pendulum will swing back as it always does (and back again after that). When the pendulum stops swinging we’re in trouble. That reality, in and of itself, is a check and balance.
The secret is limiting the damage elected officials on both sides of the aisle have done to this country one year at a time.
A better way of understanding how we got to where we are today is to look at our movies or television shows aired during primetime.
If, overnight, the shows we get today showed up on the silver screen and television in 1970, what do you think the reaction would be from the heartland?
It happened slowly over time, just as the growth of our federal government.
That, in a nutshell, is the description of what is happening in Washington, D.C. today.
Too much, too quick.
If it’s good policy, it will stand the test of time.
If it isn’t, it should be chunked, and chunked quickly.
We need healthcare reform no doubt, but pushing something down the throats of the American people in record time is not good leadership, especially when the people making the decisions don’t even know the details of the proposed bill(s).
Obama is a great orator, but his speeches need specifics when it comes to something as big as healthcare and wholesale changes in the way America operates.
What’s going on in Washington in regard to health care reminds me of an analogy my dad used in one of his sermons.
Two kids said they were late because their car had a flat on the way to school.
The principal calmly said he understood and promptly placed the two boys in separate rooms.
He then gave them one question to answer. If they gave the same answer they would not be counted tardy.
The question given was, “Which tire went flat?”
Imagine if the entire House and Senate, as well as Obama himself were put to the same test. If they could somehow be isolated at a moment’s notice and asked to explain the healthcare bill, I suspect all the answers would be different, even among the President’s most ardent supporters.
City leaders have hacked off a few folks during the years I’ve covered their meetings, but one thing we can be proud of is they have always bitten the bullet in order to stay ahead of the curve.
Regardless of how expensive a project may seem today, it won’t get cheaper tomorrow.
New councilman Paul Lippke cast the lone dissenting vote for the passage of the $10.3 million in certificates of obligation because he believes the new public works facility, to be located on city-owned property next to the new elevated water tower, is not a priority item at this time.
I respect his decision to vote in the manner he did, but I think saving a penny today because of the economy and paying a nickel tomorrow is not the way to go. The City’s improved bond rating, as well as current construction costs, are major factors which make this a good deal, today.
Locating all things related to development (utilities, permits, etc.) under one roof is a good thing in the long run and will make the work flow more smoothly for city staff, as well as for those using the services they provide.
Right now one has to run to city hall, then across the street to the building department which operates out of a leased building, and then over to public works, which seems, at times, to be secretly located somewhere north of city hall.
We don’t need our elected officials building lavish Taj Mahals, but we do need them to think in terms of long-term costs. The last thing we need is to get behind the ball when it comes to infrastructure.
Some cities are incapable of righting themselves once they fall behind. We don’t want to find ourselves in that situation in the future.
Coverage of 9-12 protests laughable
The coverage by the television networks and large daily newspapers of the protesters who marched on Washington Saturday, Sept. 12 would have been funny if it weren’t so sad.
If that doesn’t prove the networks and failing major metro newspapers aren’t in the tank with the current administration, nothing does.
One of the reasons given for the limited coverage, or disdain while being forced to cover such an event, was that it was “organized” by conservative groups, as if this group, or any other group would have just magically shown up at one place on a given day.
Duh!
Of course it was organized. Just as any protest movement is organized.
Let’s take the civil rights movement for example.
Wasn’t that organized?
Of course it was, and the long-term results can’t be questioned.
Do you think Martin Luther King’s speech would have been nearly as effective if he talked before the reflecting pond, wondering, “Where is everyone?”
There is no plausible reason for the major media outlets not covering the event ... unless journalism is all but dead at that level.
Of course, if you hate conservatism, then you think the lack of coverage is great. President Barack Obama’s staff is quoted as calling the protesters no big deal.
The networks and left-wing media outlets have done all they can to cover up the growing rage in this country over far-reaching government policies, but it won’t be enough to stop the growing rage in our country.
It has nothing to do with the color of our new President’s skin. It has to do with the direction in which the far left (regardless of color) is steering our country.
Our President’s talking heads can act like the protesters are a minor blip on the radar screen, just as many on the right failed to see the power of “organizing” a few years ago when Obama started his trek to the White House.
One has to hand it to him because he did one hell of a job getting elected.
However, I’m sure Obama and the other far left members in his party (remember, I don’t like the far left, or far right) know their time in office is limited, at least with the majorities they now have.
Why else does the largest expansion of government have to be approved so quickly?
It’s a plan, it’s very organized, and must be carried out quickly before all the major newspapers fail and network ratings continue their plummet.
If you don’t think the heartland has power, just remember the Contract for America which swept the Republicans into office a few years back. And, that was accomplished without major media in the tank.
But the plan has to meet the test of time, the test of tough questions.
We can’t change the world with great oratory alone.
The Republicans were swept out of office because they lost their conservative roots.
The pendulum will swing back as it always does (and back again after that). When the pendulum stops swinging we’re in trouble. That reality, in and of itself, is a check and balance.
The secret is limiting the damage elected officials on both sides of the aisle have done to this country one year at a time.
A better way of understanding how we got to where we are today is to look at our movies or television shows aired during primetime.
If, overnight, the shows we get today showed up on the silver screen and television in 1970, what do you think the reaction would be from the heartland?
It happened slowly over time, just as the growth of our federal government.
That, in a nutshell, is the description of what is happening in Washington, D.C. today.
Too much, too quick.
If it’s good policy, it will stand the test of time.
If it isn’t, it should be chunked, and chunked quickly.
We need healthcare reform no doubt, but pushing something down the throats of the American people in record time is not good leadership, especially when the people making the decisions don’t even know the details of the proposed bill(s).
Obama is a great orator, but his speeches need specifics when it comes to something as big as healthcare and wholesale changes in the way America operates.
What’s going on in Washington in regard to health care reminds me of an analogy my dad used in one of his sermons.
Two kids said they were late because their car had a flat on the way to school.
The principal calmly said he understood and promptly placed the two boys in separate rooms.
He then gave them one question to answer. If they gave the same answer they would not be counted tardy.
The question given was, “Which tire went flat?”
Imagine if the entire House and Senate, as well as Obama himself were put to the same test. If they could somehow be isolated at a moment’s notice and asked to explain the healthcare bill, I suspect all the answers would be different, even among the President’s most ardent supporters.
Until next week, have a good week.
Send me your messages and/or letters to the editor by email to publisher@rockportpilot.com. Remember to include your name and a daytime phone number for verification or your letter will not be considered for publication.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of rockportpilot.com.
Mike wrote on Oct 6, 2009 6:51 AM:
" Religious zealots. Personal responsibility vs. government saving the masses. Government programs which have grown way too big (all of the them by and large) which have no way of being scaled down. Why isn't government sector unemployment equal to the private sector? Thoughts to ponder. "
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Gene Douglas wrote on Sep 29, 2009 10:10 AM: