This Week's Paper

I thought the paper this week was very good. The coverage has certainly improved and more issues are being brought out.

I read the article that interviewed the mayor with a lot of interest. Here's what I find strange. You can tell from reading the article that she knows about the problems. She talks about the issues facing the town, and if you didn't know the past history you'd think she was on the ball.
But her actions don't show this. You'd think that after all the dispute and problems they've had about the town manager issue she'd be jumping on the train to get a new one, just to relieve herself of the poor press. Yet, you can tell there is a reluctance there, and it's not about the money, it's about the person she wants to keep in place.

I can't see money as an issue because she had no problem wasting town funds on endless legal bills in order to engage in a personal vendetta against a town employee. She has no issue with the waste of allowing a town vehicle to be used for personal use. I have seen the Town of Brookneal truck in Lynchburg, South Boston, on the road to Charlotte Court House, Rustburg, and Alta Vista. It's possible some of these trips could be town related, except they happen on weekends. We've lost valuable water plant employees, again because of poor management.
Why keep this conflict going on in the town office? To do so is the height of poor management of the town.

A few months ago there was a flurry of meetings, headed by the Development Chair Mr. Nowlin, that were supposed to address a town maintenance code. What happened with this? We have no code, we still have trash, eyesore buildings and slum lords. Why can't the council accomplish something? Things get started and never get finished. It's like they pretend they care, and then when the community looks away they drop it, because they really don't want changes.

I thought this quote was particularly a slap in the face to the intelligence of the residents:

"However, the town never gives up hope of industries returning because "We have the best workforce there is and Brookneal is a great place to live and raise a family. But we are certainly going to have to look for new revenue and bringing jobs to our community."


If we have the best workforce and Brookneal is so great then why do we get treated like we don't matter? Why are town funds squandered on things that don't benefit the community? Was it really worth it to waste the money on legal fees to go after someone you didn't like? Is it worth it to waste our tax dollars to keep one of your overpaid flunkies in place? Is it worth it to try to attract industries here when the first look that visiting executives get of our town is a burned out and boarded up building on the main road in, shantys in disrepair by the river crossing, and junk left out by the road? The visible aspects of this community reflect on the "workforce". All of us suffer because a few bad apples aren't brought into line with proper zoning ordinances.
Why would any white collar industry even look at this town, as they are in other regions? If they looked just at the main roads they'd think we didn't have any pride in anything. The the five years since I moved here the town has really gone down hill. It can't be blamed on past administrations, because the employee issues, reckless waste of money and ignoring of the blight can be attributed to the current administration.


I can't decide if I'm glad to know that she can speak about the issues, or angry because she knows about them and continues to ignore them for her own personal reasons.