Good things

The news from the city isn't all bad

July 14, 2010 Jake Hallman

jake@connectstatesboro.com

    I tend to beat up on city government here in Statesboro.
    Government works like newspapers in that respect — when you do something right, everybody expects it, and they don't say anything. When you do something wrong, the world comes down on your shoulders.
    Seriously. The "attaboys" come so seldom that I keep any thank-you cards I get, and I've got nice voicemail messages saved on my computer at home. Even the one where the kind lady thought I was Luke Martin.
    So instead of beating up on the City Council this week, I'll talk about some good things that are going on.
    (Councilmen, please remember this column the next time I go off on a rant.)
    One of the biggest initiatives with the city is a push towards being more Earth-friendly. The city's entered into a recycling program with Keep Bulloch Beautiful to help provide home recycling receptacles to residents.    
    Another little thing that can go unnoticed is a shift to LED streetlights. Keeping the city lit at night takes a lot of electricity, so it's good to see Statesboro moving towards conserving on their power bill (and hopefully passing the savings on to us).
    The city's also partnered with GSU to reclaim water, saving 250,000 gallons a day. And if you get a water bill from the city, you can get a high-efficiency shower head from them and even a credit to your account if you have one or a low flow toilet. Saving water's a good thing for all of us, especially in the summer.
    Also, don't forget that if you live in the city, you've got a council member who represents you. Check the website at http://www.statesboroga.net/index/maps.htm, and see what district you're in.
    The council members are responsive to constituents. I told my councilman about people speeding through my community (hey, you kids get off my lawn, there are a couple of sharp curves, and I don't want a car going through my kitchen), and almost immediately I started noticing more police patrols.
    So they'll listen. And they'll tell you what's up. Heck, you might even find out that they share the same frustrations as you.  
    Update:
    I've got to give some props to the unsung heroes of Connect Statesboro: the guys in prepress who take these pages from .pdf files on my screen to metal plates that go on the presses.
    Last week's issue had a couple of wonky problems late in the game that were caught by Shane and James in the back of the building.
    They took the time to call me, ask if I really meant for the magazine to look that way, and then helped me fix it after not one, but two frenzied late-evening trips back to the office.
    They could have let the errors slide, and made me look like an idiot — after all, it's not their picture on page 4 every week.
    They didn't. Those guys went the extra mile, and the product you're holding is better because of it.
    And what's even better is that the new direct-to-plate technology we're rolling out this week means that Connect looks sharper than ever, and they don't have to be exposed to chemical fumes any more.
    Jake Hallman is the interim editor of Connect Statesboro. He can be reached at (912) 489-9405 or via e-mail at jake@connectstatesboro.com.

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