I Could Not Have Said It Better Myself

From the Tribune and Georgian:

New Year's Resolutions for Camden County
As we look forward to 2007, here are some New Year's Resolutions we would like to see made around Camden County:

Camden County Commissioners:

· Let's see an earnest discussion of issues and leave the politics of personal destruction behind.
· Hire a professional county manager from outside Camden County and give him or her an employment contract with some security built in. The only way a manager is going to be perceived as legitimate and independent of the commissioners is for that person to be an outsider.
· Start openly discussing and making a plan for growth management, including what to do about water and sewer for the north end. Putting off a decision until the future isn't a good policy.
· Get rid of at-will employment.

The City of St. Marys:

· Establish the Tax Allocation District for the mill property and do everything possible to get that property cleaned up and redeveloped.
· Confront the problem of the overburdened sewage system. That smell downtown after a rain is only going to get worse.
· Start working toward building a downtown theater.· Stay out of court unless it's absolutely necessary.

The City of Kingsland:

· Encourage citizen participation in government by allowing more open and free-wheeling discussions at council meetings.
· Keep going with downtown redevelopment.
· Work to reduce crime, especially drug crime in the city.
· Plan for continued population growth.

The City of Woodbine:
· Work to enhance commercial development.
· Look at surrounding areas for possible annexations.
· Get going on the renovation of the theater.

Camden County Sheriff's Office:
· Provide a full explanation of just what happened that day when the trusty crashed a sheriff's office jet ski into a private dock.
· Provide a full accounting of how the trustys are used as labor around the county. What are the taxpayers receiving?
· We'd like to hear the sheriff himself address some of the issues facing his office.

Camden County Schools:
· Work to improve the graduation rate and increase the number of graduates going to college.
· Seek public input on major decisions and respect the public's opinion.

The citizens of Camden County:

· Get involved.
· Question how every tax dollar is spent. Never forget that it is your money the government is spending.
· Demand answers from elected officials. Never forget that they work for you. You may have to remind them of this fact.
· If elected officials fail to be responsive or clear in their responses, work hard to get them out of office and replaced with someone who will be responsive.