What on Earth????

What on earth would cause me to forego being outdoors on a perfectly beautiful and long-awaited summer day and decide to plop myself down in front of my PC and compose a blog entry? A lesson in Civics. Bored? Probably. However, hang in there with me, and perhaps you will get a little charged up.

The Eau Claire School District is going through a HUGE controversy regarding possible unethical behaviour on the part of it's Board members. Unfortunately, the 9-page memorandum released by Eau Claire District Attorney Rich White is unavailable at this writing - as he just completed a press conference, and the local newscasters are saying that document will be available online later today. No matter, I am not really focusing on this particular issue right now. It's more general than that.

Ever get really pissed off about something that a neighbor does with their property? How about the City Council adopting an Ordinance that turns out to be totally against your values and interests? What do you think of your City, Village or Township budget? Perhaps you are one of those folks that contacts staff at your Town Hall to have someone "fix" an issue.

There are really easy ways for you to stay informed regarding local government issues.

1. Go to City Hall, request that you get on the mailing list for the meeting agendas which may affect you and your family or are of interest to you. It may cost you a couple of bucks to defray the staff and postage cost, but you will at the very least know the topics and decide which meetings you want to attend.
2. If you are reading this blog, you are computer literate. MOST government agencies (and I am talking municipal government right now) post their meeting agendas online, as well as the minutes to those meetings.
3. Volunteer to serve on a City/Township/Village committee, board or commission. These folks make recommendations to the deciding bodies of government.
4. Request and read copies of documents like the annual operating budget, municipal code, etc. Did you know that these items are all considered PUBLIC, and you have the right to examine them. It usually takes a written request and sometimes, there is a cost involved (it's legal to charge a fee), and YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXAMINE THESE.
5. ATTEND MEETINGS. If you ask me, the more citizens at public hearings and City Council Meetings, and School Board Meetings, and actually, any open-to-the-public-government-at -any-level meeting, the better. I think it makes the elected officials nervous.

I read a lot of comments in the local paper from folks who complain about(e.g.) property use changes, but they don't attend the public hearing(s). If they live within a certain distance from the property in question, they are notified through US Mail. Hmmmm, ever throw out an envelope that is return addressed from your City or Township or Village? Maybe it was your Public Hearing Notice. It's the LAW, you HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED. And, the staff does keep copious records of how and when folks are notified and how the information is published in the legal newspaper. Geesh, I am on a roll, and I am getting more and more pissed off!

In a nutshell...get a friggin' copy of the budget. Find out where the money comes from and where it goes. (You'll be surprised, I think). Go to a freakin' meeting or two. Stop acting like a victim and take back some control for the way you live or want to live and be a part of the solutions for change, which I have said before is INEVITABLE. DON'T let the Press continue to run our lives. Use the PRESS, show up at a meeting (they usually have someone there) and get yourself heard and make the paper or television. Be heard!

Grrrrrrrrrr. I'm going outside to water my plants! For some reason, I thought I'd feel better getting this off my chest.