Meet the Candidates for mayor and aldermen was held at Recklein Auditorium on March 10. Next door, the Parks Board met at City Hall.
Aldermen Joyce Hartzell and Richard Hewkin, and the mayor, attended the Parks Board meeting. They did not face voters or answer questions at Meet the Candidates. The mayor claimed the Parks Board meeting was “very important” and he had to attend.
At Recklein, Alderman Pitts Lesesne (candidate for mayor) and aldermanic candidates Dan Eidson, Louis Raineri, Ciara Kitchen, and Chris Newcom answered voters’ questions for over two hours. Next door, the Parks Board chose colors for the pickle ball courts, agreed an old pavilion should be demolished, and discussed a few other issues.
Hartzell and Hewkin are responsible for bringing Park Board recommendations to the aldermen. Hartzell presented five recommendations at the March 17 Council meeting. Pickle ball courts and pavilion had been discussed previously and were promptly passed. Then came three issues not previously discussed. Aldermen wanted details. Hartzell didn’t have them.
The Fair Board, at its own expense, wants to pour a concrete walkway for the goat barn. What will it look like? Hartzell didn’t know. She didn’t have even a rough sketch to show.
A contract with the Red Cross must be renewed. When? April 7 or 9; Hartzell didn’t know which. She didn’t know the cost. As aldermen asked for details, she muttered “They [presumably someone on the Park Board] didn’t put anything down.” Well, Hartzell, didn’t you take notes? The mayor apparently didn’t take notes either. He asked several people about the cost; no one could answer.
Brett Bailey wants to reserve the Cuba pool for lifeguard training in exchange for a reduced price for training Cuba's lifeguards. Reduced how much? Hartzell didn’t know.
The mayor, Hartzell, and Hewkin had a full week to prepare for the City Council meeting, yet they were completely unprepared. Hartzell had no information, the mayor had no costs, and Hewkin was mute. Sadly, these three people are nearly half the governing body of Cuba.
Jackie Hunt
Cuba
