Big Mo could be dying a slow death. Just when all the momentum seems to be headed in the proper direction, a crack appears. When it happens, we throw stones, oftentimes boulders, intended to silence or hurt the ones who broke the momentum. Welcome to Dover, my friends.
Allow me to take an inventory about what has been occurring in Dover over the past year:
*Allied Machine has completed a beautiful addition and renovation to its worldwide headquarters;
*Novogradac and Company Accounting is nearing completion of a stunning three-story complex;
*Union Hospital is also approaching the end of a wonderful office project on the north end;
*Union Hospital has added a multi-million dollar emergency center;
*Parkway is adding to its growing auto mile by beginning to build yet another superstore;
*The city of Dover is developing the river bank to enable easier access to the water and enhanced recreation facilities;
*The City of Dover is rapidly advancing on a synchronized traffic light system;
*The City of Dover has been tearing up old corners and curbs and pouring new concrete for improved aesthetics and ease of mobility;
*The City of Dover has methodically improved the beauty of its park by investing thousands in ball field improvements and access to the kids' play area;
*The City of Dover has continued to pave as certain streets begin to deteriorate;
*Dover's residents passed on the first attempt a levy designed to add firefighters and to assist them in the near future as the city's plans include building a substation on Dover's north end.
Readers, you do see the pattern, right? Big Mo is hitting Dover at a pace probably unseen by most of us alive today. As a resident, I am thrilled by what I am witnessing--we are on the move!
But, wait . . . here is where the crack appears.
The Dover City School Board has--without success--for over a decade tried to convince taxpayers that a new high school is sorely needed. Plans have been altered; potential sights have been presented and rehashed; meetings with supporters and opponents have been held; public meetings have been publicized and created discussion; in-depth meetings with the state of Ohio, the Ohio Facilities Commission, engineers, architects, and construction personnel have been ongoing. . . in short, due diligence has been paid. Having been part of this process in the past, I am beyond confident that the need is real, despite the ongoing myths that have occasionally surfaced such as "they let the school fall apart so they could get a new one." Beliefs such as those are beyond any discussion, so I will refrain from even providing a counter.
However, a major crack has severely impacted the perceptions of many hoping that we could add one more slice to the momentum by building a new high school in the town's center where the majority of townspeople have said they want it. The Dover City Council has decided not to endorse this project. I, for one, am extremely disappointed in that decision. Truthfully, it is hard for me to write those words because I consider the council representatives that I know--including the mayor--as friends of mine. A few are even my former students, so I certainly do not expect any fallout from expressing my views. This council and city leadership are comprised of good, caring people, but, for whatever reason, it appears that perhaps personal acrimony toward the school is raising its ugly head. For the life of me, I cannot comprehend the lame excuses that I have read: "We are not telling people how to vote," . . . carries no weight for me. In fact, it is almost laughable. Somewhere behind that evasive rhetoric is one or more hidden dislikes or lack of trust toward the Dover City Schools. I want to hear what it is that truly is bugging the council. Let's remove the politically weak statements and state a truth: What is it that is causing the hesitancy?
When our mayor was campaigning for his re-election, he stood on my front porch and in response to my question of "Are you going to support the school's new building?" the response was quick and to the point: "Yes, as long as they follow my suggestion--I have told them we will give them Fifth Street and they can build it there." The key point was simple: as long as they follow my suggestion. Well, guess what? That is where the school's last (and also current) proposed site has been located. That is also why I shake my head when I read a quotation recently attributed to him in The Times-Reporter that "there was never any plan to get on board with." I don't understand that confusing line.
The City of Dover may still end up writing an editorial letter explaining their rationale--which I hope they do--but I must stress that it is painfully obvious that the needed support will probably be perceived as less than sincere. As a high school teacher, one of my guiding principles for students was that "Perception is Reality," an understanding that their values and their beliefs are on display in so many ways. I believe we have seen that our council--as a group--is not on board with the school's project. Again, I am so disappointed in that thinking, but I reiterate: I cannot help but think that perhaps members of council are allowing personal resentment to cloud their judgment--I certainly hope that is not true.
In the past, I have written many blog entries, mostly all expressing observations I have made. I like to think that maybe a few people may be interested in my views, but I certainly understand that many may hold differing opinions--I am fine with that. As we well know, though, that is the beauty of the process--we can still progress without complete agreement. That, my friends, is the crux of my argument: no, my vote will not be determined by whether the council endorses the potential new high school construction, and I doubt if many others are hinging their vote on council's actions. The point is that the perception that the city government is on board only adds credence to the momentum we have going for us in this city at this exact moment. Their hesitancy continues to cast a negative pall that absolutely is not needed. If we want to keep moving forward, we need the city to--at the least--quit any behind-the-scenes bickering that may possibly be occurring and acknowledge that this construction project will be just another great addition to a fine city. I want this building to be a crown jewel for our community, I want our taxpayers to consider this levy's approval, and, most of all, I want this city council and its leadership to embrace the ongoing momentum we currently have.
Please don't kill Big Mo.
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