Mooresville Town Board Creation of MI-Connection Citizen Advisory Panel

http://www2.mooresvilletribune.com/content/2010/mar/24/citizens-asked-help-direct-mi-connections-future/news-local/

Last week the Mooresville Town Board voted 3-2 to create a Citizens Advisory Panel to help advise on the town's relationship with MI-Connection (MI-C). I was able to attend this vote and was very pleased it was approved, especially because I was fortunate enough to be able to work with Commission Miles Atkins on getting the panel created.

Commissioner Atkins had expressed the desire a number of weeks back to have citizen ideas for MI-C. I reached out to him and asked if the town board had considered putting together an appointed board. It made sense to me to do that at this point with MI-C because it's such a big part of the town. The Board of Commissioners, by themselves, couldn't possibly handle all of it, and the rest of the town business, alone. I have followed the MI-C situation very closely and was interested in helping out. I was very much against the town purchasing it as I don't believe government should be running a business. But it is clear to me because we own it now, we need to improve our situation, so I want to be involved in figuring out how.

Commissioner Atkins asked what I envisioned the CAP doing and I laid out some of my thoughts. Among them were getting a full end to end view of where we stand right now with MI-C, legally, financially etc., what our options were concerning it and the costs associated with each, and then setting up an action plan to carry out whichever option made the most sense. Be that to sell the asset now, restructure the debt, ask for partners or support it and make it successful.

Some in the community have criticized this panel before it's even up and running by saying it will simply be a propaganda tool for the town board to push MI-C on the citizens of Mooresville. The intent is not, and never has been, to be a propaganda tool for MI-C, BVU, the Town of Mooresville or anyone else. The purpose is to gather information and present it to the citizens of Mooresville so that everyone can have a clear understanding of the situation. The minutes of every meeting will be posted, the names of all who serve on it will be known. This won't be done in secret.

I have applied to serve on the CAP and, if I'm fortunate enough to be appointed, those are the goals I want to see accomplished. I have no intention of sitting back and waiting on information to be given. I plan to ask questions, get information and brainstorm ideas with everyone else who chooses to serve. It's my firm belief that the town board and mayor are behind this and will work to see that the goal of the CAP is realized. If at any point that turns out not to be the case, I would end my association with the CAP and make it clear to everyone why. But I truly believe that won't be an issue.

I hope numerous people will seek to become involved. The more minds and experience focused on this issue the better off the town as a whole will be.