Thanks to Speakin Out News and to our many dedicated readers. I hope you had a great week. Our weather has been different very day. It was a very quiet Halloween night this year. There didn’t seem to be as many out trick-or-treating in the neighborhoods.
So glad my grandson came home this weekend from Auburn as he had not been home for six weeks. Our children have no idea how much their parents miss them. He is a senior at Auburn and I hope when he graduates that he wants to work and stay in Huntsville. Many leave Huntsville for jobs and never move back. I thank God both of my children made their homes in Huntsville, Alabama. My life has been blessed having them both in the city and has made me very happy. We have always been such a close family.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Since this is Thanksgiving month our council meetings are scheduled for the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month instead of the 2nd and 4th. December will be the same. There are times I wish I had government out of my mind but it will never happen. I question the many things voted on without public knowledge and wonder who makes these decisions. Do we have a City Manager running our city? It is hard for me to believe Mayor Battle is making some of the bad decisions our city is coming up with.
One item on the City Council agenda last week was a resolution to comply with the Rebuild Alabama Act 2019-2002. This resolution establishes agreements with many local corporations. I wonder what part the city plays in this and how much it cost.
CITIZENS SPEAKING
When I attend the Madison City Council meetings, they discuss what the agenda items are about in front of the citizens and the attorney discusses what the expected cost will be. Madison has a better form of government that we do in Huntsville and their people are better informed on the city agenda items before they are voted on.
The Ordinance code for public speaking at the Huntsville City Council was changed recently to only allow citizens to speak on one agenda item. In addition, all general questions from the public have been conveniently moved to the end of the meeting after all the items have been voted on. It seems the City Council doesn’t care what the citizens have to say and wishes to limit their input. Bill Kling was the only councilman that did not vote to approve this ordinance change.
CITY LEADERS
I pray our city does not tear down the big parking garage in front of City Hall. It is needed for the courthouse and the businesses around it. That big building the city is proposing to build on the current garage site is too big for that location. We need to build City Hall back on the same property where it is now. The millions our elected officials are going to waste helping the interest of their friends is not worth it. The City Hall property is the most valuable property in this city and none of their friends have enough money to buy it. Do any of the Council members have a Real Estate License? I want to know who voted to tear down the garage and build the new City Hall in its place. This vote is very important for me to know.
Love you all and have a blessed week.