They’re listening, let’s talk

“Notice is hereby given that the mayor and city council of the city of Enterprise will host a public meeting at the Enterprise Farmers Market, 525 North Main Street, at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, for the purpose of receiving comments from interested persons regarding the city of Enterprise’s recycling program, its status and future.”

That is the notice from Enterprise City Hall that we are striving to give as much public awareness to as possible. The meeting is important for several reasons.

First, all are invited to the presentation about the city’s recycling program. An opportunity for citizen input is being given.

Second—but not less important—to have servant leaders ready to listen is not something we should take lightly nor for granted. It is my prayer that citizens show up. A public meeting is only as effective as the public that shows up.

Enterprise Public Works Director Michael Walters is inviting citizen input and questions. The meeting is not being held because the city’s recycling program is going away. Walters is clear about the fact that no decision has been made one way or another. He is also clear about the fact that there are viable options to update the current operation’s effectiveness.

The July 25 meeting is to inform the public about the city’s recycling program. “My goal is for everybody to leave that meeting with all their questions answered,” he told The Southeast Sun.

The recycling issue became a recent topic of discussion around the city council table during two separate work sessions after Council President Perry Vickers questioned why $474,000 was being spent each year on the service that is bringing in ZERO dollars in revenue for the city.

The council ended the second of two work sessions where the recycling program was discussed agreeing that they want to make sure that the public is aware of what the reality is. They discussed taking the information collected to civic clubs and said they plan to hold town hall meetings.

The public meeting July 25 is a step in that direction.

A cost-effective recycling operation is more than a feel-good program. It is a way of life for many parts of our country and in other nations. Most of the large military population in Enterprise has experienced life in countries where recycling is second nature, a life style.

“There is a quality of life side to recycling and, let’s be honest, quality of life is a big deal—especially in the city of Enterprise,” is the way Walters put it. Well said.

While a diminishing landfill is not an issue in Coffee County, most will acknowledge that in heavily populated areas without a landfill such as we have with a life space of nearly a century, recycling might be a necessary reality—and that recycling is good for our environment.

The government process does work—especially when you have servant leaders who really listen to what their constituents are saying.

The issue of recycling has an impact on everyone, whether the current program is halted or modernized.

The city leadership is listening. Let’s talk.

Michelle Mann is a staff writer for The Southeast Sun and Daleville Sun-Courier. The opinions of this writer are her own and not the opinion of the paper. She can be reached at (334) 393-2969 or by email at [email protected].