Comp Plan Elements for review this week

Didn't see any new faces at yesterday's meeting ;-( But Sara Comander sent us a lovely cake with a very kind note to the Planning Commissioners expressing her appreciation. (Thank you, Miss Sara!)

Next meeting for EAR based Comp Plan amendments is April 30, 1 p.m., at the annex. I believe we will look at further revisions of the same elements we reviewed yesterday.

One of them is Housing. I think everybody in the county probably has an interest in housing. The other one is about aquifer recharge, somewhat technical but still of great importance to anyone who likes to have clean fresh water available for daily use.

These documents we're working on, in whatever form they ultimately move forward to the BCC and DCA, establish the policies upon which LDC details are based (and the LDC is next in line to be revised, I believe, once the Comp Plan amendments are finished). So this is policy making that influences everything about life in Walton County for the next 7 years or longer.

I am amazed how few people show up to participate in this process, especially given the crazy times we're in and the importance of wise planning and use of funding, resources, etc. Yes the meetings can be dull, fractious, too long, and inconveniently timed. But last time I checked, in a democracy there was a concept of citizens having responsiblity to participate actively in govt. (As they say, you get the government you deserve -- what kind of governance, then, does an uninvolved citizenry deserve?)

I'm aware of and not immune to a certain cynicism about anything to do with gov't., and for that matter any institution of more than 50 people. Still, I hear so much complaining on these forums and elsewhere about what's wrong in Walton County, yet very few of those complaining the loudest show up at the meetings I attend. I hope some of you will find a way to channel the energy you've formerly used to complain into getting involved in positive ways and bringing your passion, your expertise, your experience, your energy to the fore in helping make Walton County an even better place.

And I would ask that when you do get involved, please do not expect that anything will be improved by attack--that just causes people to dig their heels in and feel defensive rather than collaborative. Cooperation, respectful debate, consensus-building, positive interactions directed towards solutions -- these are the approaches that are most effective.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

Clearly, some people are not in a position to participate due to extreme circumstances of health or other challenges and responsibilities, and my comments here are not addressed to them. Those of us who are able to participate have a responsibility to speak truth to power, for ourselves as well as for those who cannot speak it for themselves. And I'm guessing that many who have time to post continuously on Sowal could find the time and energy to do just that.

Thanks Susan - I appreciate people who "get involved". I also understand complaining. It is something we all do. And sometimes, as part of the process, complaining also contributes to the machinery of democracy. The vocal minority of complainers should not be allowed to become sand in the gears.

Rock on.

Thanks, Kurt. Point taken -- complaints can indeed be instructive and motivating, especially when accompanied by ideas for solving the problem at hand. I am complaining in the previous post (and I hope, offering positive suggestions as well.)

Still, in my experience anyway, what gets things done day in and day out is the less dramatic work of tending to details, going to meetings, duking out the fine points, educating oneself to better understand the issues at hand, finding workable compromise when consensus can't be had, and coming back to the table again and again and again.

Very different from our small mom and pop business, where decisions have to be made quickly, everything must be far more efficient, and we'd be out of business a long time ago if we operated like government or other big institutions! The way government works is frustrating to me for all kinds of reasons: the glacial pace of progress, the backslides, the protecting of egos and empires where I'd rather see common good as everyone's highest priority, and then the simple fact that reasonable, well intentioned people can disagree fiercely on the simplest and most important matters.