"The View from Here" 11/18/03

This is Floyd Wynne with the View from Here.

I don't know what the City Council did last night about the petition seeking a "healthier Klamath Falls". but it does bring out some important thoughts.

First of all...the annexation proposals apparently have gone for naught. The public hearings that have been held have for the most part been negative to the proposed annexation. The main issues raised appeared to center around the increase in taxes, although some opposition cited other concerns such as zoning, but mostly just a general opposition to joining the City.

Since we all live and work here together...it's fair to ask...what is the real reason that suburbanites don't want to joing the City? Certainly, there must be some overriding concern among non-residents that is not being stated.

For one thing...the petition for a healthier Klamath Falls that is the apparent brainchild of realtor Jed Etters seems to point to at least one area of city government....the planning and development department. One would have to agree with his comment that "people don't need the no answer, they need a what can I do to help you" answer.

Planning can oftentimes be an opponent of development. But planning should never be so imbedded in concrete that it cannot employ common sense in its decisions.

There's no question but what the code enforcement division of the city has been greatly expanded and those in the department probably have a view of what they want the city to look like in the future, but its more important, I think, for the people to make that choice....not the planners....nor the code enforcement division. I cite the recent issue of sidewalks. Despite the fact that many residents of the city were struggling to keep bread on the table...the code enforcement division went right ahead with an all out sidewalk repair campaign that used the idea that bad sidewalks were a menace. Regardless of the cost...and in their notice...the city would assess the costs...plus a 12 percent interest for the taxpayer. Now...that's the government telling the people what they must do...or else.

Admittedly, you cannot have a hodgepodge city where everyone can do as they please...but there should only be such ordinances as are necessary for the safety and welfare of the community. Such issues as the sign ordinance...and obviously somewhat dictatorial planning...are probably just a part of the reason why people don't want to become under the jurisdiction of the city.

There appears to be a complete lack of trust in the city government. I may not necessarily be just the current city government, but all government in general.

At any event...it would seem that rather than establish another level of oversight...that some internal changes should be made at the department level to really ensure that Klamath Falls is "business friendly"...and any ambitions of the enforcers to make the city an All-American City should be shelved.

This if Floyd Wynne, and that's "The View from Here".