It appears that the sun is shining all over Hopkins County
The consecutive sunny days we’ve enjoyed recently have provided a happy respite from the overcast days of January’s ice storm and April’s steady rains.
It appears that the sun is shining all over Hopkins County.
It’s even shining a little in Earlington.
There have been some interesting changes to Earlington’s City Council meetings since January.
City council members have been bringing ideas to the table. Some have asked for reports from department supervisors. Others have asked for action to be tabled on certain items, saying more time is needed to research, learn the options, and determine the best course of action. They ask questions about the city’s budget and where, how and why the dollars are being spent.
At the February, March and April meetings, the city clerk read the month’s expenditures, line by line, and explained the purpose of each one. Council members asked questions about line items and the clerk answered them.
Remember all those long nights without electricity after the ice storm? Remember how great it felt when the lights came back on?
In Earlington’s case, two and one-half hour city council sessions are something to celebrate after two years of wandering around in the dark, trying to figure out what was going on in city government and having trouble getting clear answers from anyone.
The most important changes, at least from this journalist’s seat, is that The Messenger is being allowed more access to city information.
Since January, prior to the start of each council meeting, the attending Messenger staff writer is given copies of all the paperwork that will be reviewed by the council.
The packet includes copies of the agenda, the treasurer’s report, budget reports, bills, appointments, resolutions and ordinances.
Perhaps the most significant change is that Mayor Mike Seiber is returning calls when the paper requests information.
Earlington still faces difficult issues, among them two lawsuits pending against the city — one filed by the landlords opposed to the city’s ordinance that requires them to pay a $75 per unit fee, in addition to the 1.5 percent occupational tax; the other by former Earlington Police Chief Craig Patterson, who asserts that he was unfairly removed from the job.
However, there’s no denying the fact that after the two years this reporter has covered Earlington city government, it’s good to see the sun shine for a change.
In this writer’s view, the city looks much better in the light.
Patricia Wiles | Patricia Wiles | 
July 21, 2009 8:27 pm
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