Thursday, Mar. 04, 2010
Questions, answers and respect
John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher
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As usual, I am going to preface my remarks by saying that, yes, it is good to have thoughtful, mindful city councilmen and women representing their districts and asking the tough questions at city council meetings.
When projects of all sizes and price tags come our way, we need to have answers from those that are making key decisions.
How much is this going to cost? What sort of funding mechanisms are proposed? What is the real cost and/or burden of the taxpayer here?
And, just as important, when will the city see some sort of return on investment in the form of a payback, creation of jobs and with new businesses opening up shop?
When we are talking about a project like Missouri Innovation Park, those are all fair questions.
And that District 3 council member Sheila Solon is asking those questions is also fair.
Love her or not, Solon seemingly comes to each meeting with a binder of inquiries on the various topics that find its way on to the Blue Springs City Council agenda each meeting.
Solon was firing away at Blue Springs Economic Development Corporation President Brien Starner about Missouri Innovation Park and the two were having quite a dialogue, for at least part of it.
When can the taxpayers expect a reimbursement? When did we know that the University of Missouri was not going to build at MIP? Have we lost any money scaling down the project from 225 acres to 117?
By Starner’s own account, those are all fair queries about this still young and ever-changing project.
For some of them, Starner had answers; for others, the answer was simple: tough economic times force changes in projects of this magnitude.
Solon derailed, however, when she started asking Starner questions that were ostensibly from her constituents in District 3.
First, she asked Starner if the EDC or the Blue Springs Growth Initiative paid their board members. Then, she followed up with this gem, asking Starner if the EDC has paid any city councilmen for services rendered. The questions were ludicrous, at best. At worst, they’re a little insulting.
Starner is a professional and valued member of the business community in Blue Springs and Jackson County and he should be treated as such.
I know, or hope, that deep down Solon didn’t mean to discredit or show contempt for Starner by asking those questions. She claims she was doing it at the behest of her constituents.
As an elected official, Solon needs to make better judgments about what questions to bring forward and which ones to simply leave alone. Whether she thinks so or not, asking questions about paying board members and city council members is hazardous.
I’m sure elected officials get a wide range of “questions” from residents all the time.
But that doesn’t mean you need to ask them all in a public forum.
Solon reminds us all it’s OK to ask questions. I would remind her it’s OK to filter those inquiries. In fact, it’s her job.
John Beaudoin is publisher of the Blue Springs Journal. To respond to today’s commentary, call 816-282-7001 or e-mail jbeaudoin@bluespringsjournal.com.
