Published: September 03, 2008 12:45 pm            

What’s the Big Idea?

The local elections are over. November will bring the real task of governing. I would like to invite the readers of the News-Aegis to submit some big ideas that might make our cities and county better. We live in a republic where we choose leaders to represent us, to choose not only in our stead but to decide for us. But no one is beyond the need of wise council and many times the best ideas come from the most unsuspected places.

Ideas like: What can be done to improve the downtown area? What about tourism? How do we promote minority owned businesses? What about a new library, a countywide museum?

What I am not asking for is the tired diatribe of the disgruntled, the complainer or the perpetual whiners. While their voices are given credence this is not the point of this exercise. The notion is to uncover some big ideas and solutions to improve business and quality of life in our community. For the most part, our citizens have elected forward thinking candidates who want to make our community better. Yes, we still have our officials who would vote no against Mother’s Day if everyone else were for it. In America, Mr. and Ms. No have a seat at the governmental table and we welcome them if only because we know even a blind hog finds an acorn on occasion.

It is my hope that our elected leaders will reach out to the community to embrace new ideas and better ways of accomplishing our upward growth. It is however incumbent upon all of us to offer our involvement as well as our ideas.

There is a need for a number of “blue ribbon” panels to look at the needs as well as the wants of our community. These selected committees should be tasked to mine the best ideas to improve our county.

Our community is privileged to have a large number of successful women and men who have chosen to retire in our area. I am loathed to use the word “retire,” because these individuals are very active and involved in many projects. We need to continue to tap the wealth and depth of this talent to the betterment of our county.

Our county is in need of a business incubator to promote and groom new businesses. We desperately need to encourage homegrown businesses, improving our tax base as well as encouraging young people to stay in St. Clair County. Regrettably many of the talented young people born here leave our area for bigger cities because of the lack of clear opportunity. A business incubator backed by private and government investment and managed by a committee of successful elder business executives would be a great addition to economic development. Of course this is just one idea among many that need to be addressed. So, come on people, send in your thoughts and ideas so that we can improve our cities and county as we move forward with these new administrations.

        

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