The thing to do with Veterans park is save it, not destroy it.
Remember Bass Pro? Why were the officials behind that unpopular and awful deal so secretive, so unwilling to listen or explain themselves? What I learned from that episode is that Florence citizens care deeply about Veterans Park, and public officials should breed confidence in our citizens instead of eroding it.
And having been on the receiving end of personal attacks during that episode, I understand that they aren’t just hurtful to me – they hurt the entire city. The attacks came at me for standing up for what I know is right ( and the people know is right). The scene at that council meeting is etched in my memory — not because I am concerned for myself, but because it embarrassed our city. Citizens are still expressing their disappointment to me about that episode.
There is no place for personal attacks in our city politics and government. We can disagree on the issues without that. A good healthy, open discussion is a critical part of representative government. I welcome that and will never be hostile to an opposing idea. In the Carrier Administration, we will talk it out and decide on the best answers for the people of Florence.
Someone who doesn’t understand this concept, or doesn’t care, should not be in a position of public leadership.
Secrecy leads to all kinds of expensive problems. So does wrong or non-existent communication. There was a rush to get the Sportsplex site picked and prepped. The rush led to huge cost overruns and overlooked serious problems with the site. It’s been a boondoggle cascade — troubling to me as an elected official, and troubling to many citizens. Just because the end product will be “nice” is no excuse for managing the project and process so badly.
Whatever we do with Veterans Park, I am committed to an open process. We were promised public hearings that never materialized. As mayor, I will hold those public hearings — bringing the city government of Florence, TVA, and RSA before the people of Florence.
We can believe in the final decision if we have all been part of it. Our citizens have already put forth any number of good ideas that we should discuss as a community. One of them is a whitewater rafting park. I love the idea, and appreciate UNA professors bringing it to me. But we should stay open to any feasible idea – and if you have one, let me know.
Tags: Scott Carrier, Veterans Park
