As clearly noted on the front page of each of this publication’s editions, the DMC reports the news for Fisher and Stonewall counties, and while the fact that news from these two counties is reported, the news of what is reported could be a case study of the furthest opposites in nearest proximity.
That is not to say that one county is good and the other is bad, one is right and one is wrong, or that one is better than the other. Life — especially when humans are involved — is rarely so absolute.
People, by nature, are individual contradictions with the capacity for the creation of the best and worst in this world. As a result, the communities we develop are no less subject to the successes and failures that hide within each of us.
Nevertheless, while perfection is unobtainable, that doesn’t mean catastrophe is the only possible outcome. Since the beginning of time, mankind has slowly worked to stave off disaster, with America’s founding fathers’ experiment with democracy being one of the best examples of humanity’s attempt to maintain positive forward momentum.
It is a system where governmental power is balanced between three equal branches for the purpose of improved accountability and service to the people. It works… sometimes.
Democracy often fails when the people it is meant to serve fail to serve democracy.
So what can people do to assure democracy succeeds? The simplest answer: participate.
You see, the founding fathers drafted an amendable blueprint for democracy.
The first of those amendments opens the door for conversation, and through discussion, we can better understand, and when we understand, we can improve action, which improves the quality of the outcomes.
Don’t like the outcomes? Improve the discussion. And it is here where I have noticed the biggest distinction between the two counties the DMC covers.
One seems to seek discussion; the other seems communication-averse.
For example, citizens in each county were notified about public hearings regarding possible tax abatement agreements with solar farms and data centers or amendments to existing agreements.
In Stonewall County, the public hearing resulted in standing room only, with citizens posing questions and listening to answers. In Fisher County, it was mostly an empty room, with citizens later rushing to their keyboards, where they could lash out at what they believe while ignoring the facts that might contradict those beliefs.
In recent months, as a Rotan ISD resident and taxpayer, I filed a grievance with Rotan ISD, requesting the board to The grievance asks the Rotan ISD Board of Trustees to revise the district’s policy to allow citizens who properly sign up to speak on specific agenda items a short, structured opportunity to do so before or during the Board’s consideration of those items.
In plain terms: I asked the Board to move from a single three-minutes-atthe- start model to an item-specific public comment policy that better reflects TOMA’s “before or during consideration of the item” language while still preserving order, time limits, and decorum.
The board said “no.” They kept the policy that only allowed for citizens to speak at the beginning of the meeting.
However, the City of Aspermont was watching and listening and heard an interpretation of the law that resonated with city values and its willingness to extend an invitation to the public for input.
When the controversial topic about possible water sales appeared on the city’s public notice and drew a crowd of citizens wishing to speak on the matter, Aspermont Mayor Steven Ellis applied the same logic that Rotan ISD voted against.
“I assume everybody’s here for the RV park,” said Ellis, referring to agenda item 10 on a list of 13 separate items. “If you’d like to say something open forum you can, but if everybody’s here for the RV park, we’re going to reserve some time before that part of the agenda for that.”
Guess what happened?
Chaos? Time-wasting?
Bad actors flooding the stage? … No.
People waited patiently until item 10 was called, the mayor opened the floor, and citizens followed the rules and spoke for their allotted time. The elected officials sat and listened, asked thoughtful questions, then used what was said to aid their own discussion, and took action with a clearer mind and conscience.
Democracy prevailed.
I encourage each of you to seek discussion before decisions cure into concrete, before frustration curdles into rumor, and before silence convinces officials that nobody is watching or cares. Speak plainly, ask fearlessly, listen honestly, and expect the same from those entrusted with public power. If we want better outcomes for the places we live, we must have courage enough to have the conversations that produce them.