Will It or Will it Not; Vote For Reason, That Is?
By Chuck Ring
The Edgewood Town Council meets tonight to discuss a”final” budget for this fiscal year. One topic which has been under consideration would see the operation of the wastewater treatment plant delayed until sometime in 2010. For those who have waited in vain for the plant to become flushable and who have seen the cost escalate toward a blackhole; this is not good news. Ostensibly, those who advocate this delay, are doing so for interest savings of around $60,000.00. After seeing prices for material and labor take its toll on the total cost of the plant; one wonders why the advocates believe this is a steady course to steer. We think it is not and will urge the council to jump off the dime and let the bid for the next phase and then the final phase.
But wait! There’s more! Several businesses have given notice in one form or another that they want to operate in Edgewood and they are not keen on operating a septic system while taking care of other aspects of their business operations. So, we pay more to complete the system and we are apt to lose many thousands of dollars in new tax revenue by neglecting to pursue the completion of the plant at the earliest possible moment. Penny wise and pound foolish, we could say.
One other issue which many believe to be critical to the economic well-being of Edgewood is whether we will hire a full-time Edgewood Town Administrator. We have crawled along with many projects on the burner while utilizing micro-management techniques. When the mayor was seated for his new term, he lost no time in selecting an administrator to his liking. Fortunately, the remaining governing body members saw his desire as unsupportable. Now, one can be sure that the Mayor will argue that not many towns our size have an administrator or manager. Edgewood is not just any town, among many. It happens to be a town of championship caliber with at least a silver opportunity; if not a golden one. It is easy to stifle basic development and desired amenities by managing to turn our heads around backwards. We can set on our haunches and watch opportunity pass us by or chose a well qualified and well selected administrator that can keep things on track, just as he or she can recognize when to pursue what project or projects. This position needs to be completely separate from the town clerk/treasurer’s position because the jobs are completely different in scope and responsibilities. The town council should become involved in the process of selecting an administrator with an in-depth check on the qualifications and backgound of the final applicant and a tailored interview. I would urge the mayor and the town council to look to Los Lunas for an example of what stability and a great administrator can help to accomplish.
Here are the links to the agenda and agenda attachments for tonight’s council meeting:
http://www.edgewood-nm.gov/notices/agendas/council/2008/Agenda%2007-16-08%20(2).pdf
http://www.edgewood-nm.gov/notices/Attachments/Council/part1.pdf
http://www.edgewood-nm.gov/notices/Attachments/Council/part2.pdf
Wish your town luck and your governing body wisdom.