Letter to the editor: Go Green

Letter to the Editor:

City Councilman Michael Marti expressed his opinion about the Green Step Cities Program in a Letter to the Editor in the March 9, 2011 DCI.   I am writing to thank Mr. Marti for sharing his views publicly with the citizens who elected him.   It is a very rare event in Kasson to have a council member step up and share his opinions publicly.   I agree with Mr. Marti.  The Green Step Program will indeed be a burden to Kasson's citizens.   For example, the program requires the Council to appoint a "Green Step Coordinator" which will further burden an already busy city staff and accomplish nothing that the green-minded city staff does not already do.   It takes a lot of nerve to recognize this program for what it is and vote against it.

Thank you to Mr. Marti.

 Mr. Marti expressed concern in his letter that Kasson's citizens are not participating in city government.  That will not change Mr. Marti until you take steps to improve communication.   There are a number of ways to improve participation.  For example:

 1.  Why can't interested citizens sign up for an email distribution list to have City Council Agendas emailed to them prior to the meetings?  Ditto with the council minutes?

 2.  The Mayor's Memo should be changed to a Councilperson's Memo.  Each Councilperson should take turns writing it and therefore sharing their views with the citizens of Kasson.  Alternatively run both a Mayor's Memo and a Councilperson's Memo column.

 3.   Staff a booth with council members at the Dodge County Fair, Festival in the Park etc.   Get out there so citizens can interact with you.

 Thank you again Michael for your Letter to the Editor.  The citizens of Kasson look forward to reading more of your letters in addition to perhaps seeing you in the city’s Fair booth.

Thank you,
Kenton Spading