Learning From Port Huron

I could NOT resist posting this article that I read in the Port Huron Times Herald. Just substitute in the story "Windsor" words for our situation here such as People Based Budget, Strategic Planning, DRIC meetings, Public Information sessions, open houses...well you understand.

This is one import from Port Huron, unlike the arena, that I am happy to bring into Windsor!

Port Huron officials only want so much input on city budget

With Port Huron City Manager Karl Tomion declaring the city is facing a potential bankruptcy, what is your City Council's answer to it all? That's right; let's hire another consultant.

Ever noticed, and it may be just a coincidence, that "consultant" begins with "con?" You city taxpayers should have noticed. You've paid for a bunch of them in recent years.

With the council's approval, the Colorado-based firm of Kezziah Watkins will be running around Port Huron holding roundtable meetings to solicit input from you as to how to solve the city's financial crisis. Well, doesn't it all sound familiar?

Didn't the Michigan Department of Transportation also hold numerous forums seeking your input, advice and feelings about the design and impact of the new Blue Water Bridge Plaza? MDOT even had you running around town with cameras taking pictures of sites that were special to you.

Then, MDOT just ignored all that advice and those opinions you so carefully rendered unto them. I know; I felt as if I got played, too!

These forums, roundtables or encounter groups, which we have experienced many times before in River City, are not about your insights, advice or feelings. No, they are about indoctrination. Their aim is to manipulate you into supporting what their organizers want to happen.

They're about bringing you along so that you will buy into whatever nonsense they are trying to sell you. This time, it's a massive 100% water rate increase.

As one senior citizen told me, just the increase alone will equal almost one month's Social Security check each year. "What am I going to do," she asked. I could hear the fear in her voice.

Port Huron's government has highly-educated, talented and experienced administrators, such as Tomion, Finance Director John Ogden, Engineer Bob Clegg and a host of other talented people who have been dealing with these issues. With their well-paid jobs on the line, you can believe that if they haven't thought of a plan to solve this crisis, you and I aren't going to dream up something new in a two-hour gab session.

"But they really want me to help," you say. "They really want my advice!"

We'll see, but be mindful of this: At last month's City Council meeting, it appeared that the role of the encounter groups will be very limited.

Tomion assured a nervous Council it would be able to limit your input and keep control by proclaiming a set of "givens," which appear to be budget items, money, projects, developments and departments, that will be off the table.

So, if the City Council can have "givens," why not you? After all, you will be picking up the check.

If everything isn't on the table - including all budgets, departments, projects and restricted funds, with nothing being protected - it will prove these roundtables are nothing more than public relations diversions.

The Port Huron City Council owes the citizens of Port Huron an apology for the feckless leadership that has created yet another crisis.

Cliff Schrader is a radio columnist on WGRT-FM 102.3. His Friday columns are part of a cooperative agreement between the radio station and the Times Herald. His opinions are his own and not those of the Times Herald or WGRT