A former White House cabinet member in a television interview last week said the biggest problem in America is accepting incompetence from those in charge.
With all that in going on in the State Highway Patrol, the State Bureau of Investigation, the State ABC Board, and the State Board of Elections, it seems that we have been accepting incompetence at the highest levels for a very long time.
The fiasco at Arlington National Cemetery and the overruns in military contracts just seem to impress on the public even more than incompetence is accepted at the highest levels. It seems there is plenty of incompetence to go around. This is one time that the Biblical admonition “Judge not least ye shall be judged” might not be what is best for the community.
Do you think incompetence is a problem locally? Look at some examples, and you be the judge.
The Rental Dwelling Agreement has been in the Municipal Code of Henderson for the past four years. As long as this law, often referred to as the Certificate of Occupancy was on the books, it was law to be followed. But it was never enforced. It would appear that in four years neither the city’s Code Enforcement Officers, the City Manager, the City Council, the City Clerk, nor the City Attorney had read the Municipal Code because they did not discover that the Rental Dwelling Agreement was still law.
Blaming the past administration might have been believable if the error had been discovered even three years ago, but to have overlooked this for over four years may give you pause as to why this was not discovered long ago. You be the judge.
The City has been informed that they must keep the right of ways along the sewer lines and to the pumping stations clear of debris and growth. This reason for this is obvious. If there is a problem, the city should not have to spend half a day or more clearing a path, and the paths should be clear for constant inspections. When you ride down Chestnut Street, look at just one sewer line right-of-way at the intersection of Spring Street. Is Henderson meeting the requirement? You be the judge.
A building that poses a danger to the public must be secured or removed. I invite you to drive into the Food Lion parking lot off Raleigh Road and look at the collapsed warehouse and see if you think this poses a danger. Then drive down William Street and look at the shops that are on the right before you get to Alexander Avenue and see if this collapsed roof poses a danger. You be the judge.
The City says they must move so quickly to make improvements at the Waste Water Treatment Plant and that they cannot wait to bid for the best prices. The repairs are so urgent that bids for this big expense will be bypassed. For years the city has known these improvements must be made. Does it make good business sense to bypass bidding? If one company has had the privilege of looking at the plans and giving an estimated cost, why can’t three companies look at the same plans? Why would the city not relish comparing costs? You be the judge.
The storm drains in Henderson are sometimes so piled up that trees are actually growing from them. Our streets are supposed to be swept and our storm drains are supposed to be cleaned. Intersections are supposed to have good visibility and streets lights are suppose to be operational. We are paying dearly for all of this, but are we receiving the services? You be the judge.
The city has laws about vicious dogs, and the county hires the animal control officers who say that they do not enforce the city codes, yet they do make calls in the city. Remember that the city residents are paying for animal control through their county taxes. Does this make sense? Why can’t the county enforce the city codes? You be the judge.
Do not ignore these problems and think that they are for someone else to handle or for someone else to complain about or for someone else to call attention to. Do your part as a judge. The collected intelligence of a community can do much to remove incompetence. The collected intelligence of a community can do much to improve the quality of life for all its citizens. Should we be satisfied with mediocre services and incompetence? You be the judge.