November City Council Message
By: Council member Lynda Roesch, Contact this Council member
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A reflection on all for which to be thankful
Montgomery is a great place to live, work or visit. During the month of November, a month of giving thanks, we can remember the many wonderful things about our City. First and foremost, we should be thankful that our City has a sound financial position. Especially during these economic times when one event can cause a city economic devastation, we can be glad that Montgomery has enough in its fund balances to weather economic downturns. Montgomery’s financial condition is due to the hard work of the City Manager, City Administration and the Finance Department.
Second, we can appreciate the charm of our historic district. The look is a direct result of the hard work of the Landmarks Commission, the Planning Commission and the Development Department. All of these have contributed to ensuring that Montgomery’s downtown has a good mix of businesses and a pleasing look. Montgomery should work to entice the right mixture of business and development in the City for the future.
Next, we can be grateful for Montgomery parks, green spaces and walkways. These amenities offer opportunities to enjoy the beauty of fall and to admire nature’s handiwork. Thanks to the Parks and Recreation Commission and to the Public Works Department for maintaining and improving the look of parks as well as providing activities from soccer to baseball to hiking and to tennis.
We can also be thankful for the help and protection we get from Montgomery’s Police and Fire Department. It is a good feeling to know that these people are there to help when an emergency arises.
Thanks are also in order for the condition of our streets and infrastructure. This is a constant job and our City is consistently ranked in the top tier of communities because of the Public Works Department.
We should express our gratitude to the Communications and MIS Group which makes this newsletter possible. This Group is responsible for an award-winning web site and Open City Hall which facilitates exchanges of information between residents, staff and Council.
Finally we should thank all of the volunteers of Montgomery. The Commission members serve the City and create special events. Arts and Sister Cities Commissions create numerous opportunities for enrichment. The Beautification and Tree Commission keeps the City looking great with flowers in the spring, summer and fall.
I have already mentioned Parks and Recreation Commission and Landmarks and Planning. The Board of Zoning Appeals also takes on the land use issues. The City is lucky to have volunteers to serve on the Civil Service Board and the Board of Tax Review. Montgomery is truly fortunate to have residents who are willing to give of their time and talents. We can’t thank you enough.
All in all, this month we can be grateful for many things. Let us remember how blessed we are in Montgomery and dedicate ourselves to maintaining and improving these aspects of our community.
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