Mr. Edgell who lives on Lincoln Way has ideas to bring visitors to Buckhannon and dropped off a typed note to my business address. He writes that promoting the Pringle Tree Park and the State Wildlife Center through the CVB would be beneficial. He is not in favor of the modular CVB building design that is currently the subject of an on going litigation. He also sees a real benefit in promoting a Bluegrass Mountain music program in the area. He suggested Jawbone Park as a potential venue. These ideas have merit and can best be fulfilled by the CVB when it emerges from litigation. I love the idea of Buckhannon becoming a Bluegrass music center. I think it will take an individual or musical group to be the seed to bring the Bluegrass music idea forward.
Mr. Edgell also stated he wants a to reduce the sound of loud motorcycle pipes in our town. I empathize with Mr. Edgell as my father-in-law lives at the base of the big turn just after McDonalds restaurant and the large truck jake brakes and motorcycles are an irritant to him. The noise concern has to be balanced with the fact that Buckhannon is in the heart of West Virginia's prime motorcycle and summer holiday routes. Strict enforcement of noise ordinances make visitors wary of visiting our town. I am honestly more in favor of promoting our city as a regional visitation partner for travel opportunities. Under the right circumstances, and with proper and attractive signage, the cycling noise could be reduced but probably not eliminated. There will always be someone in any crowd that will seek attention.
Lastly, Mr. Edgell thinks the city should annex areas like Tennerton, Leggit Addition, Vicksburg and/or Shawnee Dr. areas to raise tax revenues. Annexation is certainly a way to increase revenues but should only be done, in my opinion, if it makes business sense and has some benefit for both parties. I'm sure there will always be those for and against annexation just as there are those for and against the PATH transmission line project.
I want to thank Mr. Edgell for taking time to let me know what is important to him and I hope my responses will help him make an informed decision on election day.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Words and Phrases You Don't Hear Very Often
I'm sorry; I was wrong; forgive me; you were right; let me help you; that's a better idea; I didn't know that; I wish I saw that earlier; I was selfish; I didn't consider your wishes; I was angry, etc.
It took me a while to learn to use these words and phrases and my wife Renee reminds me frequently when I need to use them. She says, and I concur that regular use of these and similar phrases keep our relationship healthy. By saying this I don't mean to suggest we don't have our disagreements. It's just that we seem to work through our issues in relatively short order.
I have observed children and young adults instantly responding to a situation or event with the words "It's not my fault." We are very quick to assign fault to whats has happened and it flows directly downhill from our congressional committees to the lawn boy who ran over my mother-in-law's Johnny Jump Ups with his lawn mower. We now affectionately call that area of Becky's garden Johnny Mow Downs. Very few individuals step up to the plate and take responsibility for their actions without being prodded by a parent or teacher. We grownups are prod resistant and usually need 2x4 stimulation.
My personal philosophy and a philosophy I would bring to city council is founded in taking responsibility for my actions and for liberally sprinkling the words I first referenced in this blog throughout my life. Life is happier and a lot less stressful.
It took me a while to learn to use these words and phrases and my wife Renee reminds me frequently when I need to use them. She says, and I concur that regular use of these and similar phrases keep our relationship healthy. By saying this I don't mean to suggest we don't have our disagreements. It's just that we seem to work through our issues in relatively short order.
I have observed children and young adults instantly responding to a situation or event with the words "It's not my fault." We are very quick to assign fault to whats has happened and it flows directly downhill from our congressional committees to the lawn boy who ran over my mother-in-law's Johnny Jump Ups with his lawn mower. We now affectionately call that area of Becky's garden Johnny Mow Downs. Very few individuals step up to the plate and take responsibility for their actions without being prodded by a parent or teacher. We grownups are prod resistant and usually need 2x4 stimulation.
My personal philosophy and a philosophy I would bring to city council is founded in taking responsibility for my actions and for liberally sprinkling the words I first referenced in this blog throughout my life. Life is happier and a lot less stressful.
Emily Post Alive and Well
Last night I had the most interesting meal at WVWC. I was invited, along with four other community business leaders, to serve as a table host at an etiquette dinner for selected students. The idea for this type experience was spear headed and presented by Aladdin Food Service with the goal to give students an idea of what it might be like to participate in a five course meal during an interview or future job function. I think this is a smashing idea and wish that more students could have attended. The food was delicious and not the usual college bill of fare. I shared my table with Nikki, Ian, Caroline, Aaron and Matt and we had a fun time discussing a wide spectrum of topics. The key for me was having fun while imparting snippets of occasional wisdom.
I am quite sure my Aunt Jeanette was smiling from heaven as I held my own in the manners and etiquette section. Aunt Jeanette and Uncle Aust were strong examples of proper table manners and I learned at an early age that please and thank you are the keys that open any door. The first, last and only lesson had a certain amount of bottom side pain involved along with sitting in the living room corner while everyone else was outside enjoying a BBQ.
As I reflect on last nights experience I can only think that manners and etiquette have not just taken a back seat, but are relegated to the tow behind trailer for so many today. Men do not remove their hats indoors and at the table in restaurants. Seldom do you see a door held open for a female companion or a chair pulled out for seating assistance and the grand daddy of of all guffaws is texting at the table. Can you tell that's one of my pet peeves. Since my fingers are on the keyboard I might just as well throw in the etiquette of meetings that don't start on time. How often have you heard the meeting chairperson say "We will wait 10 minutes to see if anyone shows up late." Phooey!!!! Honor those who arrived on time and begin the meeting as scheduled. And guess what. No cell phones, pages or texting unless you are an emergency service provider. My fingers are still on the keyboard so I'll blast some more lost manner observations - language skills. I'll leave the proliferation of off color and foul language to one statement; find another @#&^*$ adjective. We seem however, to be reverting to a one syllable society when it comes to answering phones. Yo, hey, uh ha, sapin'n, dog, what, yep, etc. I answer my personal and business phone the same way almost every time. It goes like this "Greeting, Name". Real simple. Hello, Scott Preston; Good evening, this is Scott; You have reached Scott Preston, how can I help you. It takes about three seconds, but to me it sounds so much better than "What's up dog!!"
Serve from the left, remove from the right, work your forks from the outside in and take three seconds when you answer the phone.
I am quite sure my Aunt Jeanette was smiling from heaven as I held my own in the manners and etiquette section. Aunt Jeanette and Uncle Aust were strong examples of proper table manners and I learned at an early age that please and thank you are the keys that open any door. The first, last and only lesson had a certain amount of bottom side pain involved along with sitting in the living room corner while everyone else was outside enjoying a BBQ.
As I reflect on last nights experience I can only think that manners and etiquette have not just taken a back seat, but are relegated to the tow behind trailer for so many today. Men do not remove their hats indoors and at the table in restaurants. Seldom do you see a door held open for a female companion or a chair pulled out for seating assistance and the grand daddy of of all guffaws is texting at the table. Can you tell that's one of my pet peeves. Since my fingers are on the keyboard I might just as well throw in the etiquette of meetings that don't start on time. How often have you heard the meeting chairperson say "We will wait 10 minutes to see if anyone shows up late." Phooey!!!! Honor those who arrived on time and begin the meeting as scheduled. And guess what. No cell phones, pages or texting unless you are an emergency service provider. My fingers are still on the keyboard so I'll blast some more lost manner observations - language skills. I'll leave the proliferation of off color and foul language to one statement; find another @#&^*$ adjective. We seem however, to be reverting to a one syllable society when it comes to answering phones. Yo, hey, uh ha, sapin'n, dog, what, yep, etc. I answer my personal and business phone the same way almost every time. It goes like this "Greeting, Name". Real simple. Hello, Scott Preston; Good evening, this is Scott; You have reached Scott Preston, how can I help you. It takes about three seconds, but to me it sounds so much better than "What's up dog!!"
Serve from the left, remove from the right, work your forks from the outside in and take three seconds when you answer the phone.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
March Madness Is Not Basketball
March is just around the corner and with it comes March Madness and the Madness I refer to is the budgeting process that all state government agencies go through this time of year. 2010 will be especially challenging as our country slowly inches out of one of the worst economic periods in decades. Couple that with the notion that West Virginia typically lags national recoveries, the Toyota debacle could have a negative state/local impact if the Buffalo, WV plant is closed even for a short period of time, federal budgeting suggests fewer funds are available and health care/retirement costs are shooting through the roof. Holy smokes Batman, Gotham City needs close attention!!!!
Our mayor and city council will be addressing the budget process over the next few weeks and I truly wish them all well as the task ahead is challenging. Buckhannon is faced with declining revenues and increased costs. The state has mandated that local governments pick up an additional 6% of employee retirement benefits and the cost of city employee health care continues to rise. I'm sure there are city infrastructure projects and continuing programs all needing funding.
Budgeting ideas that have been brought to my attention since I expressed an interest in running for city council include: do nothing, annexation, increase health care deductibles, reduce services, have employees contribute to health care, find a new health care provider, increase taxes, apply criminal offender public works hours to city projects and the list goes on. I don't even know if the last suggestion is legal.
There is no single correct answer and the best answer for our city will most certainly not please everyone. I hope our city leadership will aggressively seek budgeting solutions that are fundamentally sound and for the long range. A short term budget band aid will do more harm than good.
Our mayor and city council will be addressing the budget process over the next few weeks and I truly wish them all well as the task ahead is challenging. Buckhannon is faced with declining revenues and increased costs. The state has mandated that local governments pick up an additional 6% of employee retirement benefits and the cost of city employee health care continues to rise. I'm sure there are city infrastructure projects and continuing programs all needing funding.
Budgeting ideas that have been brought to my attention since I expressed an interest in running for city council include: do nothing, annexation, increase health care deductibles, reduce services, have employees contribute to health care, find a new health care provider, increase taxes, apply criminal offender public works hours to city projects and the list goes on. I don't even know if the last suggestion is legal.
There is no single correct answer and the best answer for our city will most certainly not please everyone. I hope our city leadership will aggressively seek budgeting solutions that are fundamentally sound and for the long range. A short term budget band aid will do more harm than good.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Technical Tuesday
Today were the Skills USA tests at the Eberle Technical Center. Students in a wide variety of technical categories competed in both a written and practical skills examination. Those student achieving the highest scores go on to compete at the state level. The Eberle Technical Center under the direction of Mike Cutright, is regionally recognized as graduating well trained students ready for either the work force or for continuing education in their technical field.
Some of the programs offered at the Eberle Technical Center include automotive technology, auto body repair, diesel technology, welding, masonry, timber industries, computer and networking technologies, health care and nursing, electricity and construction.I may have missed some of the programs.
Why am I sharing this? Because Renee's son Logan Lamb was the first place winner for welding and received a gold medal in tonight's ceremony at the high school. As you can imagine Renee and I are extremely proud. Logan will compete in the state Skills USA event in Beckley sometime in March.
Congratulations to all the Skills USA winners and the faculty and staff at the Eberle Technical Center.
Some of the programs offered at the Eberle Technical Center include automotive technology, auto body repair, diesel technology, welding, masonry, timber industries, computer and networking technologies, health care and nursing, electricity and construction.I may have missed some of the programs.
Why am I sharing this? Because Renee's son Logan Lamb was the first place winner for welding and received a gold medal in tonight's ceremony at the high school. As you can imagine Renee and I are extremely proud. Logan will compete in the state Skills USA event in Beckley sometime in March.
Congratulations to all the Skills USA winners and the faculty and staff at the Eberle Technical Center.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Pot Roast, Pot Luck and Potholes
This morning I filed for city election. Now the scary part comes, having never done anything like this before. I need to confirm municipal election law requirements with the Secretary of State's office and also need to start raising campaign funds. I had little grasp of the cost of running for a local election and I'm also uncomfortable in asking for contributions but it is necessary. My campaign can accept checks made payable to Committee to Elect Scott Preston or cash less than $50. I have jumped out of the pot roast pan into the fire.
I had a bit of pot luck by meeting former councilman and firefighter Paul Mackey this morning at the bank. I explained I had jumped into the political ring and he gladly offered his support. Paul and my Uncle John Barlow served on council together back in the early 90's. I told Paul I remembered attending a council meeting when both he and John sat on council. I think Tony Gum was mayor.
It's amazing that even announcing your candidacy brings out questions more suited for existing council members. None the less I felt qualified to answer this question from a citizen about when the horrid potholes will be repaired in Buckhannon? I explained that this is the hardest time of year for roads as the water runoff and rain combined with the evening freeze thaw cycles turn the smallest road dent into the Grand Canyon that can easily blow a tire or put the front end of your vehicle out of alignment. On state roads, the DOH uses a special cold mix for temporary repairs. Cold mix repairs are really temporary as the potholes re-form quickly after just a few days. I have noticed on city streets that the worst of the potholes are repaired using a combination of gravel and cold mix applications. The pothole epidemic will not end until we get through the wet and freezing weather AND the asphalt hot mix plants start operating again. I don't know the date but it is sometime in the spring. Until then we just have to be tolerant and cautious. Our city street department makes pothole repair a priority each spring.
I had a bit of pot luck by meeting former councilman and firefighter Paul Mackey this morning at the bank. I explained I had jumped into the political ring and he gladly offered his support. Paul and my Uncle John Barlow served on council together back in the early 90's. I told Paul I remembered attending a council meeting when both he and John sat on council. I think Tony Gum was mayor.
It's amazing that even announcing your candidacy brings out questions more suited for existing council members. None the less I felt qualified to answer this question from a citizen about when the horrid potholes will be repaired in Buckhannon? I explained that this is the hardest time of year for roads as the water runoff and rain combined with the evening freeze thaw cycles turn the smallest road dent into the Grand Canyon that can easily blow a tire or put the front end of your vehicle out of alignment. On state roads, the DOH uses a special cold mix for temporary repairs. Cold mix repairs are really temporary as the potholes re-form quickly after just a few days. I have noticed on city streets that the worst of the potholes are repaired using a combination of gravel and cold mix applications. The pothole epidemic will not end until we get through the wet and freezing weather AND the asphalt hot mix plants start operating again. I don't know the date but it is sometime in the spring. Until then we just have to be tolerant and cautious. Our city street department makes pothole repair a priority each spring.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
While You Were Sleeping
I had the opportunity to ride with Buckhannon Police Officer Darren Hissam last night from a little after midnight to about 3am. It was an effort on my part to learn and discern more about how our officers perform their duties, what challenges they face in the performance of their duties and specifically how the officers view the the relationship between the police force in general and the Wesleyan student body.
Our night started out by signing a waiver for liability purposes. Any citizen can ride along with an officer by calling in advance and signing a waiver. I recommend it as it provides a view and understanding of police work that cannot be gained from reading or popular television programs. I found out much to my dismay that Buckhannon does not have a crime lab with blue and orange lights that can produce blood or DNA results within hours, conduct ballistic tests in the basement nor do they have any staff named Gibbs, Ducky, Abby, McGhee, Zeva or Tony. You can tell I'm a NCIS fan!
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights patrol officers seem to concentrate on the downtown area, the Sheetz intersection and the streets between downtown and the college campus. The patrol focus is making sure everyone walking gets home safely, identifying possible DUI vehicles and maintaining a highly visible presence. During my ride time we probably traversed Main Street a dozen times and did 3-4 laps around Sheetz and the college campus . I observed one citation for a two month old expired license plate, garbage cans and sandwich boards turned over on Main Street, suspicious egg cartons on Meade Street and we assisted on a DUI stop.
I digress here to share another observation of the evening. When an officer stops to make an investigation whether for a traffic violation or public disturbance, the initial officer is always backed up by another unit. This procedure is for officer safety. I said I would feel intimidated if more than one vehicle pulled up if I was stopped or questioned. The point of this is to assure those reading this blog that additional police units are on scene for offices safety and not to intimidate the public.
Back to my evening/morning ride. During my patrol time I discussed with both Officer Hissam and Sargent Loudin the relationship between the police and Wesleyan students. Both asserted the relationship in their opinion had improved and the claims of student profiling are not justified. They backed up that assertion by stating the police department had not received any complaint forms. The department takes seriously formal complaints and Sargent Loudin affirmed he takes them seriously and on more than one occasion has counseled officers regarding acceptable behavior. They also stated they could not respond to student stories of improper police actions. They could however respond to written complaints. I asked if the complaint process would paint a target on the back of the complainer? They both felt that could be the case. I wondered and they agreed that changing the nature of the form to a feedback instead of a complaint form might make those affected more willing to provide feedback. This might be an area for future discussion.
About 2:50am, just before I planned to bid Officer Hissam a good morning we received a call from the comm center regarding a fight in progress at the KA house involving 30 people. We arrived in less than 20 seconds after being dispatched to the scene to see those gathered disperse like mice leaving a sinking ship. There was no apparent fight. Two additional officers arrived on scene. What I observed from the patrol car were all three officers discussing the incident with several young adults (students) and leaving after knowing the original dispute between students had been resolved. What was also key to the officers involvement was contacting the WVWC Greek advisor. My assessment of contacting the Greek advisor was to maintain an open and immediate dialogue between the police and the WVWC community. Job well done in my book.
Having very little sleep my four legged alarm clock woke me in enough time to make both the early service and Sunday school. The topic in my men's class for today was 'Is the Bible true?' The answer of course was not black and white. What came out of our discussion was there will continue to be a struggle and active debate on Biblical truth issues. Much the same can be said regarding the tension between our college and our police. While we would like to think there are black and white answers to all issues, the reality are solutions in many shades of gray. I'm hopeful that a rigorous and regular dialogue will continue between WVWC and our police department.
Our night started out by signing a waiver for liability purposes. Any citizen can ride along with an officer by calling in advance and signing a waiver. I recommend it as it provides a view and understanding of police work that cannot be gained from reading or popular television programs. I found out much to my dismay that Buckhannon does not have a crime lab with blue and orange lights that can produce blood or DNA results within hours, conduct ballistic tests in the basement nor do they have any staff named Gibbs, Ducky, Abby, McGhee, Zeva or Tony. You can tell I'm a NCIS fan!
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights patrol officers seem to concentrate on the downtown area, the Sheetz intersection and the streets between downtown and the college campus. The patrol focus is making sure everyone walking gets home safely, identifying possible DUI vehicles and maintaining a highly visible presence. During my ride time we probably traversed Main Street a dozen times and did 3-4 laps around Sheetz and the college campus . I observed one citation for a two month old expired license plate, garbage cans and sandwich boards turned over on Main Street, suspicious egg cartons on Meade Street and we assisted on a DUI stop.
I digress here to share another observation of the evening. When an officer stops to make an investigation whether for a traffic violation or public disturbance, the initial officer is always backed up by another unit. This procedure is for officer safety. I said I would feel intimidated if more than one vehicle pulled up if I was stopped or questioned. The point of this is to assure those reading this blog that additional police units are on scene for offices safety and not to intimidate the public.
Back to my evening/morning ride. During my patrol time I discussed with both Officer Hissam and Sargent Loudin the relationship between the police and Wesleyan students. Both asserted the relationship in their opinion had improved and the claims of student profiling are not justified. They backed up that assertion by stating the police department had not received any complaint forms. The department takes seriously formal complaints and Sargent Loudin affirmed he takes them seriously and on more than one occasion has counseled officers regarding acceptable behavior. They also stated they could not respond to student stories of improper police actions. They could however respond to written complaints. I asked if the complaint process would paint a target on the back of the complainer? They both felt that could be the case. I wondered and they agreed that changing the nature of the form to a feedback instead of a complaint form might make those affected more willing to provide feedback. This might be an area for future discussion.
About 2:50am, just before I planned to bid Officer Hissam a good morning we received a call from the comm center regarding a fight in progress at the KA house involving 30 people. We arrived in less than 20 seconds after being dispatched to the scene to see those gathered disperse like mice leaving a sinking ship. There was no apparent fight. Two additional officers arrived on scene. What I observed from the patrol car were all three officers discussing the incident with several young adults (students) and leaving after knowing the original dispute between students had been resolved. What was also key to the officers involvement was contacting the WVWC Greek advisor. My assessment of contacting the Greek advisor was to maintain an open and immediate dialogue between the police and the WVWC community. Job well done in my book.
Having very little sleep my four legged alarm clock woke me in enough time to make both the early service and Sunday school. The topic in my men's class for today was 'Is the Bible true?' The answer of course was not black and white. What came out of our discussion was there will continue to be a struggle and active debate on Biblical truth issues. Much the same can be said regarding the tension between our college and our police. While we would like to think there are black and white answers to all issues, the reality are solutions in many shades of gray. I'm hopeful that a rigorous and regular dialogue will continue between WVWC and our police department.
Friday, February 19, 2010
A Morning with Matt
I had the pleasure and opportunity to spend the morning with Buckhannon's police chief Matt Gregory. I told him I was planning on running for city council, and as Paul Harvey would say, wanted to get the rest of the story. I shared my thoughts and what I have heard from other citizens during our meeting. We covered a whole suite of topics from officer salaries, equipment, retention, training, community relations down to how officers have to deal with nuisance calls. Matt provided copies of several reports and plans he developed for the department and took time to go over the material in depth. In no particular order, here is what I learned:
One citizen thought we had too many officers. Buckhannon employs 10 officers and this turns out to be a ratio of approximately 1 officer for every 700 citizens (Buckhannon's population is approximately 7000 including Wesleyan students). Just a little background to put this ratio in perspective. There are 60 class III cities in West Virginia. At Buckhannon's current ratio there are 43 cities with a lower ratio (more officers) and 17 with a higher ratio (fewer officers). Given this information it would appear our police staffing is appropriate for our population base.
Another topic we discussed and one close to my heart is the fact that citizens call on police to handle issues that should not involve police. For example: "My neighbors cat peed in my flowers." Officer do something. "My neighbor makes too much noise." Officer do something. "My son's girlfriend won't stop calling our house." Officer do something. While these examples are fictitious and for illustration only, the point here is that we, the citizens, need to take more responsibility for our own actions and be proactive to seek solutions with those that cause a minor irritation. There are certain times when police need to be involved if personal safety is a stake, but for many cases, we need to solve our own problems. Enough on this.
One citizen thought we had too many officers. Buckhannon employs 10 officers and this turns out to be a ratio of approximately 1 officer for every 700 citizens (Buckhannon's population is approximately 7000 including Wesleyan students). Just a little background to put this ratio in perspective. There are 60 class III cities in West Virginia. At Buckhannon's current ratio there are 43 cities with a lower ratio (more officers) and 17 with a higher ratio (fewer officers). Given this information it would appear our police staffing is appropriate for our population base.
Another topic we discussed and one close to my heart is the fact that citizens call on police to handle issues that should not involve police. For example: "My neighbors cat peed in my flowers." Officer do something. "My neighbor makes too much noise." Officer do something. "My son's girlfriend won't stop calling our house." Officer do something. While these examples are fictitious and for illustration only, the point here is that we, the citizens, need to take more responsibility for our own actions and be proactive to seek solutions with those that cause a minor irritation. There are certain times when police need to be involved if personal safety is a stake, but for many cases, we need to solve our own problems. Enough on this.
We spent considerable time discussing a topic high lighted in Buckhannon 2015 that deals with relationship between our police force and Wesleyan students. Matt explained that there is an easy yet formal process to report and document complaints, and that when received, he aggressively investigates them and formulates appropriate action. Matt acknowledges past issues with the Wesleyan student community but feels the relationship is improved.
The tension (real or perceived) between WVWC and our police force may stem form the grant supported program called B.A.S.I.C. As I understand it, the B.A.S.I.C. program is designed to target and reduce underage drinking. The program includes an Instruction phase where offenders hopefully will learn new Behaviors and be more Accountable for the Choices they make. There is also a community Service component. Matt supplied me with the January 2010 statistics from the B.A.S.I.C. program and the categories and numbers are eye opening. This program can have a positive impact on the youth of this community. Matt and I discussed how this program is applied at the college level when students are returning from downtown clubs or fraternity functions. I expressed my opinion that, at the college level, I would hope officers could demonstrate a level of discernment or mercy regarding targeting underage drinking. Matt believes that participation in the B.A.S.I.C. program includes an element of mercy as there is no arrest record and successfully completing the program. Matt indicated his approach to community policing is consistency and is reluctant to modify this approach. Consistency takes subjectivity out of most equations. While I didn't make this observation during my meeting with Matt, it occurs to me that any one of these students (most over 18 years old) staggering home from downtown, could be called into service to defend our country. Why not let them stagger home if they are not in danger nor causing a disturbance. I suspect this will be an issue for future discussion.
Again, my thanks to Matt for three hours of good conversation and exchange.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Sidewalk Signage
About a week ago in our local paper there was an article that discussed the placement of sandwich board advertisements on sidewalks in and around Buckhannon. A very easy response to this would be to strictly enforce the city ordinance's pertaining to signage. Instead the city zoning officer Rich Clemens drafted a letter to local business owners with a twofold purpose: 1) to make the business owners aware of the existing ordinances and more importantly 2) to seek their input for a workable solution. Several issues are at play here. In one instance we cannot block public access as it could reduce safety. Also the proliferation of sandwich board type signs could become an eyesore. The other side of the equation are the business owners who need to be creative in advertising to sustain business.
I think a sprinkling of sandwich board signs coupled with the placement of existing strategic benches and flower boxes adds a certain ambiance to our small town atmosphere. I think signs should be limited in number and size per business and be constructed to withstand a reasonable breeze. Hats off to Rich Clemens for seeking a mutually agreeable solution to the signage issue. This is an excellent example of involving the communuity in decision making.
I think a sprinkling of sandwich board signs coupled with the placement of existing strategic benches and flower boxes adds a certain ambiance to our small town atmosphere. I think signs should be limited in number and size per business and be constructed to withstand a reasonable breeze. Hats off to Rich Clemens for seeking a mutually agreeable solution to the signage issue. This is an excellent example of involving the communuity in decision making.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
A Day at the Fire Station
Today we had two structure fires within hours of each other. Buckhannon, Adrian & Rock Cave responded. Additionally, we called for manpower from Tallmansville, Weston and Elkins to assist at the fire scenes and provide standby coverage for our community. What many Buckhannon-Upshur residents don't realize is that the volunteers at both of these incidents were originally paged just before 9am and many did not finish putting equipment back in service until 3:15pm. All of us have jobs and we appreciate the support of our employers.
If you know a volunteer firefighter thank them for their unselfish service. It never fails that you have just sat down to dinner, turned on the shower, about to go out to dinner, open Christmas presents, watch your child's sports event or are having the best dream ever that the emergency pager blares out. The firefighters in our community are truly today's heroes. Did you know that before a volunteer can respond to a fire scene they are required to complete 120 hours of formal training which includes CPR/first aid, hazardous materials training and basic firefighter skills training. The cost of basic firefighters' gear can approach $2500 per individual. Amazing isn't it? If you are at all interested in becoming a member of one of the area fire departments don't hesitate in making an initial inquiry. I will be happy to answer any questions or put you in contact with one of the department chiefs.
As I plan to file for the city council election on Monday I can say with certainty that promoting issues that enhance our fire and police service will be a priority.
If you know a volunteer firefighter thank them for their unselfish service. It never fails that you have just sat down to dinner, turned on the shower, about to go out to dinner, open Christmas presents, watch your child's sports event or are having the best dream ever that the emergency pager blares out. The firefighters in our community are truly today's heroes. Did you know that before a volunteer can respond to a fire scene they are required to complete 120 hours of formal training which includes CPR/first aid, hazardous materials training and basic firefighter skills training. The cost of basic firefighters' gear can approach $2500 per individual. Amazing isn't it? If you are at all interested in becoming a member of one of the area fire departments don't hesitate in making an initial inquiry. I will be happy to answer any questions or put you in contact with one of the department chiefs.
As I plan to file for the city council election on Monday I can say with certainty that promoting issues that enhance our fire and police service will be a priority.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Lunch with the Bonner Scholars at WVWC
I was invited to attend a lunch with several Bonner scholars and WVWC leaders. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss voter registration of students and student city issues. It has been reported in Buckhannon 2015, student exit interviews as well as interviews as far away as Fairmont, that Buckhannon is not student friendly. The students feel singled out by city law enforcement especially when returning from downtown or Fraternity functions late at night. We have become a town with a college and not a college town.
I have asked for additional information that supports these claims and if substantiated I feel we should work toward developing a more student friendly atmosphere. This may take a while because it suggests a law enforcement philosophy change in the way we relate to WVWC students. First and foremost for the safety of the community and the students, laws cannot be compromised and I expect our law enforcement officers to dutifully uphold the law. The philosophy change that might be necessary involves adding mercy and grace to the tools of justice that our officers carry on their belts. I would like to think of our officers as peace officers rather than law enforcement officers. It's a small nuance in definition but I think it has a large impact. When responding to a noise complaint at a fraternity party I would hope the arrival of our city police would have a calming effect as opposed to an inflammatory effect. I have ideas about how this might be accomplished but I want to visit with law enforcement leadership and test my thoughts there. There are always two sides to every story.
The other topic discussed at lunch was student voter registration for municipal elections. It would appear that there are no valid restrictions that prevent WVWC students from registering to vote in Buckhannon. Students from PA, VT, RI and DC may not wish to register locally as their in state scholarships might be in jeopardy. WVWC students live here almost 9 months of the year and I believe they have the right and obligation to express their desires through the ballot box. Students are eligible to register up to 21 days before a city election and may vote absentee as early as 84 days or no later than 6 before an election. Another interesting figure I learned is that there are only 2854 registered voters in the city. I hope all who read this blog take time to register to vote. It is important that your position is counted. As always your comments are appreciated and welcome.
I have asked for additional information that supports these claims and if substantiated I feel we should work toward developing a more student friendly atmosphere. This may take a while because it suggests a law enforcement philosophy change in the way we relate to WVWC students. First and foremost for the safety of the community and the students, laws cannot be compromised and I expect our law enforcement officers to dutifully uphold the law. The philosophy change that might be necessary involves adding mercy and grace to the tools of justice that our officers carry on their belts. I would like to think of our officers as peace officers rather than law enforcement officers. It's a small nuance in definition but I think it has a large impact. When responding to a noise complaint at a fraternity party I would hope the arrival of our city police would have a calming effect as opposed to an inflammatory effect. I have ideas about how this might be accomplished but I want to visit with law enforcement leadership and test my thoughts there. There are always two sides to every story.
The other topic discussed at lunch was student voter registration for municipal elections. It would appear that there are no valid restrictions that prevent WVWC students from registering to vote in Buckhannon. Students from PA, VT, RI and DC may not wish to register locally as their in state scholarships might be in jeopardy. WVWC students live here almost 9 months of the year and I believe they have the right and obligation to express their desires through the ballot box. Students are eligible to register up to 21 days before a city election and may vote absentee as early as 84 days or no later than 6 before an election. Another interesting figure I learned is that there are only 2854 registered voters in the city. I hope all who read this blog take time to register to vote. It is important that your position is counted. As always your comments are appreciated and welcome.
CVB Board Meeting
Last Friday, February 12th, I called the CVB and left a message indicating I wanted to come to their next board meeting. I explained that I was considering running for city council and wanted to get my CVB information first hand rather than forming opinions based on what is published in the newspapers. I left my cell phone as a call back number. I did not recieve a call back and found out today that the board met last night at 6:00pm. I will try again later to reach the CVB.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Getting Started
Dear Friends,
As I prepare for an election run for city council I thought it best to have a blog to express my views, hold open forums and information exchange. I must admit I am not a techno gadget person so this electronic medium is new to me. I even am challenged when it comes to texting. I hope this blog proves to be a valuable tool for us as I campaign for election and represent you on council. I started with Facebook as a medium of choice but found I was limited in the volume of text I could send at one time. I plan to use this blog as an open bulletin board so please do not hesitate to contact me. I can also be reached via this blog, email at scott.preston.01@gmail.com or cell phone 304.613.9301 (9am-9pm M-F)
As I prepare for an election run for city council I thought it best to have a blog to express my views, hold open forums and information exchange. I must admit I am not a techno gadget person so this electronic medium is new to me. I even am challenged when it comes to texting. I hope this blog proves to be a valuable tool for us as I campaign for election and represent you on council. I started with Facebook as a medium of choice but found I was limited in the volume of text I could send at one time. I plan to use this blog as an open bulletin board so please do not hesitate to contact me. I can also be reached via this blog, email at scott.preston.01@gmail.com or cell phone 304.613.9301 (9am-9pm M-F)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)