Communication needed in county

On April 18, my husband and I attended a meeting of citizens to debate the need for a help group for our county, the "Lampasas County Concerned Citizens" or LCCC. It was an open meeting, and many attended, including some of the county's elected commissioners and county judge.

Although I have an idea why the officials came, I cannot speak of their intentions, but they inflicted an atmosphere of distrust. I agree with many as to how the law was used against the citizens of this community to obtain what a certain few wanted without the public's participation.

The people in attendance at the meeting did all agree we need better communication between citizens and our elected officials that will not disrupt anyone's meetings.

This proposed organization will not be dividing political parties; it is about working together and giving the public a voice in local government with a small amount of spokespersons to attend local meetings. Most of our community does not expect government to be able to please everyone, but we need new faces and ideas. All the crying from the officials still does not dilute one important point of law and government: "Of the people, by the people, for the people," you are servants of the people when you take office. Expect discourse.

As a member of the Lampasas County Historical Commission, I did take offense with the remark from one official about how the Historical Commission did this or that. I did not hear all the statement, but I heard enough to know it was an insult for the work both the Texas and local commission have done.

Those statements made it appear as if our county officials want to dislodge our premier status for parts of the Old Town Addition to the City of Lampasas, downtown and the courthouse. It would not surprise me to find out this was one of the reasons why they "pulled the wool over our eyes" on this sudden change of plans [to issue tax notes, rather than certificates of obligation OK'd by the voters].

To those of you who may not know, our downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places, along with our courthouse. Many "downtowners" are upset because complete destruction of the Brooks building or any downtown buildings could remove us from that honor. For years our downtown businesses joined together with the LCHC chairman to have our town recognized. This honor was to protect Lampasas and help bring visitors here that will keep Lampasas and the downtown square alive. How many cities have you been to that have that honor bestowed upon any part of their city? Have you been to any town/city nearby that has even one building on the National Register? Getting us on the register was a serious investment in its future, but we still need more than Spring Ho to boost trade and bring attention to our town.

It's too bad more citizens and/or the national news media did not come to that meeting. I don't believe we would have heard what we did. Just sign us "Two more voices to deaf ear."

John and Kay Richardson