The Buzz Repairs and construction cost money

This time of year people are complaining about the conditions of city streets  that have taken a beating due to a cold winter and fluctuating temperatures.
Last year Daingerfield made some real strides on fixing several intersections, along with Hughes Springs. Lone Star is working on a grant that will repair much of its infrastructure; after that is complete, repairs will be made to several streets in that city.
I do not know this year’s plans for sure about street work in each city, but I am sure each city has budgeted what they could afford and will be making repairs as soon as they can afford to do so. Each city has many miles of streets, and it takes a whole lot of money for repairs/resurfacing.  
I know many of us are seeing the potholes that are popping up, and no one likes them. Remarks are made about the cities’ lack of repairing all of them.  I hear people say this and that should be done with the cities; however, few people show up to the city council meetings and actually listen to the problems each city faces with infrastructure and street maintenance. It is very costly and I have to admire the council members for trying to balance budgets, apply for grants and determine how to wisely use the taxpayers’ money. Council members have to drive throughout cities and make a determination on how many places need repair and determine what the traffic flow is in that particular area.
No one wants to pay more taxes, but in a real world, if the city councils raised taxes really, really high, then all of us could ride around on brand new streets. It’s just not feasible with the cost of machinery and asphalt or other things used to build the streets. I think if we knew the financial problem cities face, many of us would be more understanding when we lash out about fixing this or that.
I have to admire people who sit on the city councils and in mayoral positions in this area. It is a job; however, they are paid nothing to do this job. All of us should take the time to attend council meetings in the city where we live and respectfully listen to the problems they tackle. Most are trying to do the best they can without raising taxes to a level none of us can afford.
People want certain areas in cities cleaned up. It’s a process to condemn property and it takes months and months of notices. It’s very costly once the property is declared condemned for the city to tear the buildings down.
I know several years ago there was a spring clean-up, at least in Daingerfield. Several people, volunteers of course, would meet downtown with trash sacks and spend a Saturday walking throughout the city picking up trash.  Each of us could do that if we wish; walk around the area you live in for a few blocks and pick up the trash. Yes, I know, it’s not your trash, but it is what is called pride in your city. I’ll never forget the man who called me one day in his frustration, telling me about how many bags of trash he had filled when he picked up the roadsides. His frustration laid not so much in all the work he did, but how short a time went by before the road was littered again.
I think it was on a Shreveport television recently I saw Louisiana lawmakers were looking at passing a law that would give someone a fine if they threw a cigarette butt out the window. That’s interesting as I think I read somewhere it takes 15 years for the cigarette butt, including filter, to disappear. That’s a really long time and the possibility of a fine may deter some, but surely not all.
A lot of complaints could be resolved by attending city council meetings and learning how cities operate. Take the time to care and listen to the problems the cities face with finances. You may find you will have a lot of respect for these volunteers who work for the city for free.