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Impressions of 3 local governments

By JOHN THOMPSON

Over the last week, I had the privilege, if you can call it that, of attending meetings of three of the largest government bodies in Fayette County.

I hit the trifecta: budget workshops at the County Commission, a Board of Education meeting and a contentious Fayetteville City Council meeting.

After a weekend of reflection, here’s some of my thoughts on how local government operates in this county.

Let’s start with the bad.

Rule No.1: If you’re conducting the people’s business at a City Council meeting, don’t hurriedly lock the door after the meeting is barely finished.

After Fayetteville’s meeting, which featured the announcement of the police chief’s retirement and a major resigning the department, I stepped outside to talk to the unusually large crowd. As I turned to go back in the meeting and retrieve my notebook, I noticed the door was being locked. I was told if I needed to get back in, I could wait until somebody was leaving the building and could duck in behind them.

I realize that people wanted to get home after the controversial meeting, but the locking of the door seems to symbolize the way the city has been doing business lately. The doors were locked as tight as the city councilmen’s lips on the controversy in the police department.

There were still 15 people inside the building when the door was locked, so I was further confused. Was your local government trying to lock something in or out of the building?

I’ve covered local government for 15 years in three counties, and I have never seen a door locked so quickly after a meeting.

Rule No. 2: Remember, you work for the people, not vice versa.

For many years, I’ve been concerned that many of our county’s political leaders seem to have a strong helping of arrogance each morning before they conduct a public meeting.

I’ve seen public leaders roll their eyes at citizens, along with looking at residents with condescending looks.

I’m amazed that we’re one of the highest educated counties in the state, but evidently never received a lesson in common courtesy.

Perhaps the politicians think people don’t care since there’s an appalling lack of people who actually vote in municipal elections, but I think I feel a shift in the winds. There’s a lot of people who feel a sense of discontent and are ready to take the government back from leaders who disregard comments and opinions from the public.

Now for the good.

Rule No. 3: Nobody looks at a budget closer than the Fayette County Commission.

For many years, I’ve set aside the middle of May for budget hearings with the County Commission. I’m truly amazed at how the board pores over the budget, line by line.

Well, you may not agree with some of the County Commission’s decisions, but you have to admire their respect for taxpayers’ money.

When Commissioner Linda Wells finds something that can be cut from the budget, her expression reminds you of a kid coming down the stairs on Christmas Day.

While the practice of looking at every item in the 20-pound budget book teeters closely to micro-management, it’s refreshing to see a government agency that is concerned about your money.

Rule No. 4: If you want to be inundated with paperwork and rationalization for spending money, head to the Board of Education.

Each month, the public relations staff inundates the media with a blizzard of paperwork concerning every possible item on the agenda.

It was also interesting to see how the school system handles its budget. The board tentatively approved a $164 million budget with just a few questions from board members.

I’m sure the board members looked over the budget with due diligence, but it was just a marked contrast after dealing with the county putting every object under a microscope for its $46 million budget.

Fayette is fortunate to have some of the better government operations that I’ve witnessed, but that doesn’t mean there’s not room for a change in attitude.

As noted orator Henry Clay said in 1848, “Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees; and both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people.”