A Piece of the rock
Nina West, Emporia
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
For many years I attended almost every city commission meeting and study session. In the audience for the meetings were the TV camera person, a League of Women Voters representative, a Gazette reporter, a KVOE radio reporter, and me, Nina West. Depending on what was on the agenda, people would attend to their business and then leave. Anyone could go to the meetings, watch it on TV, read it in the newspaper and hear it on the radio.
The city commission followed procedure with budget hearings and the budget was approved with funding for the entrance monuments in 2009. I heard no protests. Throughout 2010, more action was taken in a series of commission meetings on design, sculptor, locations, foundation and setting of the monuments, and the stone required to complete the project.
The complaints began with the unidentified Gazette bloggers, who tore into the project like rabid dogs. I wonder why the Gazette requires anyone who writes a letter to identify themselves by name and address, yet sets loose the unidentified bloggers to say anything: Truth, lies, ugly or vicious? Freedom of speech, or freedom from lawsuit? I may not agree with those who write the letters, but I totally respect that they sign their name.
I was bothered by the “shocking report” written in the Jan. 31, 2011, Gazette about Bob Davis refusing to let Gazette reporters see the monument. Bod Davis is a good man. He very generously donated the rock for the project, charging only the cost of the excavation. That is his private property and he was within his rights.
Could this project have been proposed better? Possibly. I like rocks. I love rocks. I have a garden full of rocks. So, I propose that those of us who like rocks and like this project start “A Piece of the Rock” fund and donate to help reduce the cost to the taxpayer. I am putting my money where my mouth is and sending a small donation to the city. Get “A Piece of the Rock” and send a donation to the city.