Steve deserves credit for taking this on, and in spite of my desire not to
ruin anyone's apple pie, I want to keep pushing it.
Do this in two steps: First: Merge the Park and Library Boards with the
City Council. By putting all decision making under one body before we attack
the issue of what should/can be coordinated, we eliminate the turf wars that
have sabotaged these discussions in the past.
Then, the one more powerful decision- making body can attack the issue of
what functions can and should be merged.
It's possible that this joint group will decide that there are no
efficiencies in merging specific functions, although I find that unlikely.
But no matter what comes through the taxpayers know there is one group that
makes the call and has the incentive to deliver the services as efficiently
and inexpensively as possible.
I wrote in an earlier post that I also believe this new more powerful single
board would also make it far more likely that we could address two long term
city needs that have been languishing: improved city ball fields and a new
library. And I think that's just the start.
R.T. Rybak
East Harriet
