Column: "Sauntering":Would things really be different?

One of Eureka's biggest problems, and greatest assets, is that the people who live here are too darn smart.

They are too well educated, too well traveled, and too sophisticated for life in a village.

The appeal of a small town is in its lack of traffic, lack of drive-by shootings, used-to-be lack of street noise, the ability to know your neighbors and to have the local post office and grocery store as social centers.

Please don't think that I think people who live in other small towns are stupid. I don't. They just seem better able to let the people in charge be in charge.

The problem with a population of people who own or have owned their own businesses, traveled the world, gone to school past college graduation, worked in corporate America, achieved high military rank through long careers, and, generally, led independent lives, is that they don't like anyone telling them what to do.

They rail against the idea of having to ask the Historic District Commission (HDC) for permission to work on the exterior of their homes.

They don't want to ask the Planning Commission for permission to cut down trees or to help plan their construction projects.

They want full-service parks with swimming pools, baseball diamonds, tracks, skate parks, benches drinking fountains, 100-year-old trees and green grass to lie down in.

They want the city government to provide all the basic services at bargain basement prices and to promise that each of us will prosper in our lives as we grow older.

One of the easiest ways to tell a newcomer is from the sentence start of "Well, where I come from..."

If it was so fabulous there, why do they leave?

It is hard for the citizens of Eureka to play nice, to get along and work together toward a common goal.

We don't know what the common goal really is, other than a better life for all of us.

There are at least 2,000 ideas of how to reach that goal within our community.

Depending on who is telling the story, there are approximately 160 people or approximately seven, attempting to change the form of Eureka's city government.

They want to move from a mayor/council form to a city administrator (CA) form of government.

They maintain the CA form will be more stable; that electing seven persons to the board of directors will be easier than electing six to the city council; that hiring a "professional city administrator" will be the solution to keeping the daily operations at an even keel.

Maybe so. It sounds good in theory. It could be good in practice, if it was happening anywhere but in Eureka Springs.

So far, in the not quite 20 years of having administrative assistants, they have lasted about five years each. One only lasted two years.

If the model contract available on the International City Managers Association (ICMA) website is any indication of what a "professional" is going to expect, the city's budget can't support a city administrator and any other employees.

The model contract calls for the hiring city to provide moving expenses, a house, a car, cell phone, fax line, computer, health benefits, and a golden parachute of paid expenses, benefits and contract buy-out if the directors decide the administrator "isn't the one."

That brings up another question, "Who is in charge while the world-wide search is on for this person?"

Couldn't be the mayor.

Would have to be the board of directors taking care of day-to-day operations because the department heads are certainly not capable, according to current council thinking.

Would the seven have to meet every morning to line out the work for the day, to sign checks, to order supplies, etc?

According to the advocates for change, these people will be setting salaries for themselves, so why not meet more frequently?

A sitting city council cannot set a salary for itself, although the members can give themselves a raise. The sitting council can only set a salary for the in-coming council.

If, for instance, 100 applications are sent in and 10 seem like really good possibilities, is the city going to pay traveling time and expenses to bring those people here for interviews from all over the world?

The selection committee will say, "We want the town run like a business." But, if recent events are any indication, the board of directors will want to be in on every decision, big or small. That's the way four members are acting now.

Would things really change? Why would the board of directors trust a stranger from the "big city" world any more than they do someone elected from our own citizenry?

The advocates for change are talking about hiring an educated-trained professional. And because of the beauty and wonderfulness of Eureka Springs, that person will be willing to take anywhere from 15 to 50 percent less in salary and benefits just to live here.

Bushwhaaaaaa--won't happen.

The administrator of Ft. Smith makes $109,000; Siloam Springs $77,662; and Barling $46,800.

None of them were trained-professionally-educated or experienced city administrators when they were hired. They worked in other aspects of city administration and have learned the administrator's job on the job.

The advocates of change are repeating the mantra "it isn't about personalities, it isn't about personalities, it isn't about personalities."

Of course it is, it always is. That is what runs local politics, especially Eureka politics.

Unfortunately, the advocates of change can all be accused of having personal reasons for wanting the system changed. They deny it to the roof tops and call "foul" when anyone says that out loud.

Doesn't seem to matter that the advocates for change are slinging mud and calling names against the people in office today. Apparently, that is okay. But it is not okay for those who don't want change to sling mud back.

From where I sit, the best ideas for improving life in Eureka Springs haven't come from the city council table, although some council members and mayors have been involved.

The Community Development Partnership (CDP) for Western Carroll County has brought in a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) coordinator and program, house painting program, clean up programs and a plaque program to mark historical buildings.

The Arkansas Community of Excellence (ACE) program is bringing several groups together to develop positive ideas for a variety of projects and programs.

I don't hear whining and accusations and petty behavior when I attend these meetings. I only hear positive, moving forward, "let's get things done."

A group of volunteers that went to Washington, D.C., two years ago to hunt for funding are responsible for the $250,000 Saving America's Treasures grant to renovate the auditorium.

Yes, the city council agreed to finance a loan to match the grant so all the work could be done. That is the single, most positive action this current council has taken.

And although city council members did not involve themselves in the renovation project, they were certainly able to throw stones about how it was done.

The Parks and Recreation Commission, bless their hearts, is trying, but they have spread their resources too thin. Volunteers are raising money for the skate park and for the operation of the Eureka Kids program.

And NO ONE from the city council has taken an active interest in maintaining the local hospital or trying to get the financing for a new hospital building. That should have been a community project if ever there was one to be had.

Someone prove to me how this will change with a new form of government. Promise me, and all the other citizens, that new directors, new mayor and city administrator will be the ones bringing new programs, new ideas, new ways of finding funding forward to make Eureka a better place to live.

Murphy resigns, council wants tax appeal process

Eureka Springs Mayor Kathy Harrison announced the resignation of Finance Director Diane Murphy as another marathon city council meeting got underway Monday evening.

Restoration work okayed for house above Spring St.

The new owners of the houses at 138 and 140 Spring St. have gotten permission from the Eureka Springs Historic District Commission (HDC) to start work to save the structures and put them in usable condition.

HISID approves larger pump for golf course well

The Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District (HISID) apparently has a "gusher" of a new well to irrigate the golf course.

Column: "Sauntering":Would things really be different?

One of Eureka's biggest problems, and greatest assets, is that the people who live here are too darn smart.