Dear Editor,
Mr. Smallwood’s article is right on target. He addresses some of the same things I am concerned about, such as name changes on the recreation center to Rec Plex and Neosho Auditorium to The Civic. I thought Mrs. Judy Haas Smith said the Civic sign should be moved in front of the city hall.
At present, council members are elected and they could all live in the same neighborhood. I know they don’t, but as it is they could. I think we need to go back to a ward system as Neosho used to be or, as Mr. Smallwood stated, precincts, that way each area of our city would have representation.
This will be more important as time goes by with annexation to the city all the way to AA Highway, for example. Next, all the way out 86 to New Highway to Baxter Street … Wal-Mart to New Highway and all in between. Some folks will like it and some won’t.
I agree with Mr. Smallwood: We the citizens of Neosho need to elect the city mayor, not the council.
Finally, let your voices be heard at council meetings. The next council meeting will be Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. Council could vote on passage of 405 code. Plan to attend on Jan. 27 the state of the city address at the Neosho Auditorium. Also plan to attend on the 29th at the same location for public input on Square streetscape design sessions 2-4, 5 to 7 p.m. I agree with Mrs. Judy Haas Smith — when the Square had a retail business in every building on the Square, the sidewalks we now have were big enough. Don’t widen the sidewalks and cause the traffic lanes to become more narrow.
I’ll take a swipe at county courthouse employees. Rather than take up all the parking inside the Square, try parking on an off-street parking lot. People who work other places like Wal-Mart don’t take up all the parking close to the door — that is for the customer (Hint: Taxpayers).
Above all, get involved in your city government. Show up at council meetings, get out and vote in the upcoming primary election. Choose wisely.
Sincerely,
Gene Franklin,
Neosho
