December City Council Message
By: Gerri Harbison, Contact this Councilmember
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A look back... and a look to a bright future
As we come to the close of another year, it is time to reflect on the events in our lives of the past year and look to the future for our city.
It has certainly been a busy fall and the elections have come and gone. Along with Todd Steinbrink and myself, we were fortunate enough to have two new candidates step up and offer to devote time to their city.
Vicki Hirsch has been always been an active volunteer and supporter of our city, and we welcome her to City Council.
I would also like to commend Fred Isaac for throwing his hat into the ring. It takes a lot of effort to run a campaign and while this time not successful, we hope that Fred will consider volunteering on one of our Boards or Commissions and offer his time and talents in that venue.
We would also like to thank Bill Niehaus for his many years of service to the city. With the completion of his term, Bill will be retiring and taking some well deserved time off. We will miss Bill and his perspective of history in the city, but wish him the very best as he leaves City Council to put his many talents to work in other ways.
Also on the November ballot were Issues 35 and 36. Issue 35 was a tax levy for the proposed park and was initiated by City Council to provide a funding source in the event that the parkland initiative was adopted. Issue 36 was initiated by a small group of individuals asking the city to buy land to be used as parkland.
While these issues may have created some controversy, everyone had the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.
And while these issues may have sparked some highly spirited debate, they also served to enable neighbors to get to know each other better and come together to work for their view of the issue. This proves what we all know to be true, that no matter what side you are on, we all still love our city and want to make it the very best it can be.
As sometimes happens in situations like this, tension and hurt feelings may linger. I would ask that — as we enter into this holiday season of family and friends — that we all put the past behind us and come together to heal our city and move ahead into the new year together.
We are fortunate, indeed, to live in such a great community and we need to work together to maintain it as the special “home” that it is to us all. For, after all, that is truly the spirit of what Montgomery is all about!