Nathan Straus
Jacksonville Daily Progress
JACKSONVILLE —
Jacksonville’s citizens are looking forward to the coming opportunities for earnest discussions with Mayor Robert Haberle.
Some, such as Janis Adams, said she believes Haberle’s decision to open a room for citizens every other week is a good one.
“You can tell him what you feel are the pros and cons of the city,” Adams said. “People can even tell what a great job they (city officials) are doing around the city.”
Last week Haberle announced he would begin a regular event called “Meet With the Mayor”.
Haberle said this would run the first and third Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon in the Jacksonville City Hall conference room.
Adams said she would definitely make use of the time afforded her and all city residents to discuss important issues with the mayor.
“There are too many fast food places,” Adams said. “I want to see some healthier eating places.”
Resident and Angelina and Neches River Authority Board Member Al Chavira also said he believes Meet With the Mayor is a good call.
“It’s important for people to know who the leaders are in the community so they know who to talk to about their problems, but most of all, who can make the difference,” Chavira said. “It’s hard to get the community to go to any city or school meetings unless they have an ax to grind.”
Chavira also said functions such as Meet With the Mayor are needed wherever there is a city council, mayor or school board.
“They are our tax dollars,” he said. “We need to know we are getting the best out of them.”
Others, such as Resident Clay Bevel, said he doesn’t know yet if the idea will bear fruit.
“A lot of things have been discussed for the city that never got on the floor,” Bevel said. “This might help, it might not. To me, it’s how interested the person who you’re talking to is.”
Bevel said he would take advantage of this opportunity if he believed it would be productive and added the mayor might hear some words about the recent alcohol election in Jacksonville.
Mayor Pro-tem Kenneth Melvin said a similar project was embarked on about three years ago when council members and the mayor invited their constituents to meet with them.
“I’m all for opening the lines of communication,” Melvin said. “We’re there to represent the people and if they don’t let us know what they want or don’t want then we have to decide on our own what we think.”
Melvin said he will watch the latest efforts by Haberle to connect with the population of Jacksonville and also said if it shows success he will consider enacting his own version.
Haberle said he will be open for about three meetings each hour with either individuals or groups with no appointment necessary.
“This is to give the citizens an opportunity to come to what I hope is a friendly environment to talk about whatever is on their minds,” Haberle said.
Haberle, also running as a write-in challenger for Cherokee County Judge, said he hopes he will be as available for questions in the county judge position should he be elected to it.
“The people are the boss and we represent them,” he added.
