Residents of Park Rapids, it may be in your best interest not to re-elect city council incumbents. Incumbents over time seem to entrench themselves in a policy box and become incapable of thinking outside this box. One newcomer doesn't have much chance with new ideas because they are outvoted by incumbents and eventually succumb and become the status quo.
The current city council and staff, a reflection of council, have recently demonstrated their disregard and insensitivity to individual residents or property owner problems. One was allowing access to the S&L store to be cut off during street construction. S&L, according to this newspaper, when asking for help got lip service from city staff but no action.
A second incident involved members of the city volunteer fire department. At a recent council meeting, the fire chief requested the council to give members of the department a substantial hourly raise. The council stated the request came improperly and too late and a token raise was given.
It seems that the city fire department made up of volunteers would be of great interest to the council and that they would make a concerted effort to satisfy these dedicated, responsible volunteers necessary for the protection of the city and surrounding community. Instead they were rebuffed.
These are just two of many incidents where city council and staff have demonstrated their insensitivity to individual citizens or property owners, which seems to supercede serving the people whom they were elected to represent.
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One has to wonder what effort has been taken on the part of the council to assure access to businesses and residents along Highway 34 during the upcoming improvement work this coming spring. My guess is they're going to say it's not their problem, which is the standard response.
The incumbents running for re-election should be replaced and encouraged to seek other interests. One suggestion is being a greeter at the new Wal-Mart store.
Arnold Leshovsky
Nevis
