(Public comments from the Sept. 26, 2022 Clarkston City Council meeting)
OK. The mayor did respond to my public comments in the last meeting, but with nothing to explain why City officials have not acted to repair the streets and sidewalks. The mayor prefers to not run for re-election on a ballot with a city millage proposal.
For several months, I have offered criticism and suggestions on ways to improve the city’s financial situation providing my public comments six hours prior to council meetings in order to provide an opportunity for officials to consider a response. I was wrong to believe that city officials would understand and act. Why city officials could do neither is unclear. City Hall and Depot Park expenses have been favored over sidewalk repairs.
Without the financial capability to repair the city’s streets and sidewalks, residents may wonder whether Clarkston can continue to be a city.
The Roads Assessment (RAMP) done in 2017 and the several updates of the Capital Improvement Plan have provided the data to show the city’s financial requirements: Spend $100,000 to repair roads annually and plan for more than a million dollars over five years for capital projects. City officials have not understood or reacted.
Each succeeding budget proposal has showed reducing amounts of money for capital projects. The fund balance is at its minimum. The next year’s capital project money is proposed because it was unspent in the previous budget year. I will be surprised if the seven Main Street paver aprons are repaired in this budget year so these monies will likely be available in the next budget year.
I am hopeful that after November’s election Amanda Wakefield and Scott Meyland will join with Sue Wylie and other council members with positive influence to benefit the City of the Village of Clarkston.
Chet Pardee
Clarkston