Advisory Ballot Will Poll Citizens About Merge
The Longview City Council has reversed itself, and will now join Kelso in supporting the use of an advisory ballot to gauge citizen interest in exploring a city merger. They had narrowly decided against sending the issue to voters two weeks ago, but with all members present, the resolution passed 5-2.
The ballot will not decide whether we merge, but will simply poll the voters for their interest in considering the issue. For years, I’ve heard some people tell me a merge would never be supported, and others that a silent majority want it to happen. My thought is, the only way to really know what our citizens want is to ask them. Incredible thought, huh?
Once we have the answer, we can either move forward with the merge talks or leave it alone for another decade or more. I’m not as concerned with which way it goes; I’m more interested in just having the answer.
I recall when Longview and Kelso merged the Parks and Rec Dept. Seems like all the employees went over to Longview and not much was done in Kelso Parks at all for a few years.
Perhaps the City needs to look harder at diversifying its tax base instead of selling its soul to the devil.
Just read Council’s goals for 2008-2009. Better late than never.
I have a real problem with Goal No. 1? Why? The airport is a cash cow i.e. it drains money every year. Always has and always will. Why not shut it down and develop it as prime industrial space? All lengthening the runway would do is create a potential problem with developing the Longview Wye property.
How’s the progress on the rest of the goals?