DO THEY REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK?

 Why would a governmental body schedule an important informational meeting during the holidays, a week from Christmas Eve no less, and over the dinner hour: 5:30-7:30 pm? Eureka officials are holding such a meeting about significant possible changes to zoning on December 17.

In the past, over the many years I served on the Commission and the Board, we were always careful to avoid such timing. We wanted good turnouts and for the people to be informed about whatever the issues were.

I’ve been checking the Township website for some time and only just now have seen the Open House mentioned on News and Notices. It still wasn’t on the Township Calendar even tonight. Only office hours are listed there for the 17th.

The Planner the Board hired is presenting, I believe, at the beginning of the meeting. If true, if you are late or think you can come from 6:30 to 7:30, you could miss the information the Board says it wants you to weigh in on.  

I do know that Pete Storlie earlier said he wanted the Open House “done before the end of the year.” Too bad it is this late; it interferes with family time during the holidays. The notice was evidently sent December 5. Not even two full weeks before the event  

If few people come to this meeting because of scanty promotion and unfortunate timing, how does that help your public officials? Will it be said that nobody must care because so few attended? How does this afford the Board with the opinions it claims to want to receive? How does this inform them? And WHAT do they go forward with?

What ever happened to the idea of sending a survey such as was done in the past? It was mentioned for a little while and then I believe the idea was dropped. Have you received a survey? We haven’t. 

I have yet to hear the Commission or the Board mention the oversight the Metropolitan Council will have and the history of the Township’s interaction with Met Council representatives on these very topics. Former officials have brought these up, but were largely ignored. 

I’m hoping students’ Christmas concerts aren’t held that evening! If at all possible, PLEASE ATTEND!