Let's Work Together

To the editor,

The City of Cameron has had a public swimming pool continuously since 1938. Our current pool is 33 years old and will need to be replaced soon. With the defeat of the recent tax proposal, for the first time in 77 years, the City of Cameron is now facing the very real possibility of not being able to offer swimming facilities to our citizens. In this event, the youth of Cameron will need to replace thousands of hours of recreational swimming with other activities.

While I supported the tax initiative, ultimately it is the citizens’ choice to support or reject a proposal. What none of us should support is some of the behaviors that were exhibited recently.

Let’s hold a mirror up to the behavior that occurred in the final days before the recent election. It is my deeply held belief that the behaviors exhibited during the recent election do not represent the moral code of Cameron. I believe mail boxes were illegally stuffed with political propaganda, election signs were taken under false pretenses and the tone set through social media was ugly.

Moving forward, I give my assurances as mayor, that all legally valid and fiscally appropriate proposals for the financing of a new swimming pool and ball fields submitted to the City Council will be given proper consideration. To this means, at the August 17, 2015 council meeting, I will request a letter of invitation to those who led the campaign against this tax. This will be an invitation to present actionable proposals. In addition, I’ve requested that the City Manager add a standing council agenda item for the purpose of allowing any others that are interested in addressing concerns related to the swimming pool and ball fields for our community. I would like to encourage the public to attend these meetings. Please contact the City Manager if you would like to be placed on the agenda and include the following in your proposal:

1. The identified mechanism to provide the funding.

2. The interest rate and duration.

3. The statute or law that confirms the legality of your suggested approach.

If you wish for continued forward progress and growth in Cameron, we must work with unity rather than division.

Respectfully,

Dennis M. Clark, Mayor