Get Out & Vote !

The election is less than six days from now and have you decided on the candidates and issues? I would encourage you if you haven’t already done so to research the candidates and issues. Be prepared when you walk into your voting location. One of the best resources that I have found is the League of Women Voters of Kent voters’ guide. The information they provide is a nonpartisan look at the issues and candidates. The League of Women Voters encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. We need to take advantage of this responsibility and vote for the most qualified candidates to ensure the proper management of our government. We should not vote based on emotion or political affiliation. Voting decisions should be based on facts, experience, education, qualifications and what they bring to the position for the betterment of the public.

This is the link to the League of Women Voters “Voters’ Guide”

 http://kent.oh.lwvnet.org/votersguide.html

Economic Development Cost

A comment came to my attention today regarding the issue of why the city is considering paying for an economic development director or economic development firm. I certainly understand the concern about paying for economic development help within the city with such a large diverse workforce. Some individuals within the city may be capable of taking on some of the responsibility for economic development to offset hiring an individual or firm. My concern with utilizing current city employees is that we need to have one key individual such as an economic development director that would take on this responsibility and coordinate the efforts. The sole mission of the economic development director would be to promote and retain business within the City. I would expect an economic development director to specialize in this area and call upon others within the city to assist. The city needs a focused, trained professional to take charge of selling the city.
Ravenna is at the point that if we do not take some action quickly we will continue to slip back to the point of staggering tax losses. In turn this will continue to erode at city services and the ability of the city to capture any new business.

The city is in need of major changes to the overall operating structure. We are currently overburdened in areas with overstaffing and inefficient departmental structures. We need to reevaluate what services we offer to our residents and the overall direction and long term plan of what we want Ravenna to be. Economic development and how that is structured is only one small aspect of how Ravenna needs to change.