I think the East Ridge City Council meetings might need to say the “Serenity Prayer” before the meetings: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference. ”
The City Manager has confirmed what many of us have been talking about for a while. In a recent council meeting, City Manager Miller discussed the fact that the city has borrowed all the money that we can afford to borrow without serious consequences. The East Ridge High School field house and animal shelter are being put on hold due to these budget concerns. We didn’t need a crystal ball to tell us that!
Many community activists warned that this day would come, and it has arrived right on schedule. The hotel/motel tax will not cover any new infrastructure, cops, firefighters, street department, and much more. The city’s budget might have an elastic waist band for all I know!
I have never been shy of saying that when it comes down to East Ridge elections, I vote person and not party, and am proud to say so. When one doesn’t evaluate character of the candidate, it is a vote for what exactly?
The past few months, the current administration has been running through many new development projects across East Ridge before the changing of the guard, so to speak. I have supported many of these new projects and anything is better than more apartments right?
I do wish that the city would negotiate deals that help update the infrastructure of the city since it is obvious we have borrowed too much money and hit our reported credit limit! Without city improvements, what will happen to the city’s infrastructure?
I have never been shy of saying that when it comes down to East Ridge elections, I vote person and not party, and am proud to say so. When one doesn’t evaluate character of the candidate, it is a vote for what exactly?
I know that the council election is a non-partisan race, but we all know it and nobody wants to talk about it. If one side wins, the new development goes on at all costs. If the other side wins, they could delay or vote down any projects they desire. Who knows?
I am not thrilled with the 4-1 split we now have, but what does the future council look like? The combination of possibilities for this year’s election are endless! The voting block of the council could change if:
- Bethune wins Mayor and Williams remains seated on the council for two more years
- Bethune, Cagle, Manning, if elected would swing the balance
- Williams wins Mayor and the remaining seated council votes on the empty seat left behind by the Williams win
- Manning or Cagle do not win and the council sways way over to one direction
- Newcomers in the race get elected to serve on the council
- Helton wins State 30 race and becomes less effective in ER business
- New City Manager needs to be hired by the new council
- Boards and Commissions will not change no matter who wins
- IDB continues to “give the cow away” instead of selling the milk
- And last but not least, Denny Manning gets to pray again before the council meetings as the official City Chaplin
In April 2018 when the city created the East Ridge Housing and Redevelopment Authority, hundreds of people got involved and became as informed as possible on the matter. I know that the citizens of East Ridge have the power to make big changes when we work together towards a common goal. We did it then and we can do it again, GO VOTE!
_ Laura Mathis
