First 100 days

One of the questions I've been asked most frequently since taking the oath of office as a member of the Grand Rapids City Council in early January is whether or not I enjoy the work. I haven't faltered in my response. "Yes," I reply, "I'm having fun."

The first 100 days as a City Councilor have been spent learning about how the City government works:

• the roles of the various deparment managers;
• the complexity of the City's fund accounting system;
• the maze of State rules and laws that outline our responsibilities as elected officials;
• the do's and don'ts of complying with the Minnesota Open Meeting Law;
• the process for advancing issues for discussion;
• the pace of decision making;
• and much more.

One of the most personally rewarding learnings has been getting to know my new colleagues on the City Council: Mayor Dale Adams, Gary McInerney, Dale Christy and Joe Chandler. Three of us are new, and Dale A. and Gary have patiently encouraged us as we've learned the ropes. Just as with any new team, we're becoming accustomed to how each other thinks and how we process information.

The City of Grand Rapids, like other communities throughout Minnesota, are sharing the pain of the State's massive budget deficit caused by the falling dominos of the world's faltering economy. Despite these challenges, I'm optimistic that we will work our way out of this problem while the local, state and national economies improve. Previous City Councils have made good choices about reserve funds, and our staff is keenly aware of the public mood. Relatively speaking, the City of Grand Rapids as an organization is in good shape.

I'll use this space to share my observations about Grand Rapids and some of the public policy choices we have. I look forward to feedback from neighbors, friends and other area residents as we work to make smart choices in City Hall.