Dave, since you decided to write an article about this parking lot issue, I think you should dive a little deeper into the DDA and its funding mechanism, called tax increment financing act, or TIFA. I would wager very few taxpayers in Wayland know about this or how it works (or doesn't, as in this case with the DDA). Then after explaining the details to the people, maybe you can come up with the logic that the DDA had when it bought a parking lot that was already a parking lot and had been for many years? Then maybe, while you're at it, dig in to the minutes of past council meetings and see why they created this parking issue you wrote about this week. I said it right, the City Council, led by a newcomer city manager, elected to discontinue a parking lot rental program that was working. It seems that in the language of said rental agreements, the snow plowing and maintenance of said lots was on the City. I am talking about the American Legion lot, the former Harding's lot and the lot north of the Henika Library. This would only make sense, since the city was rentimg them for public use and it had a responsibility to make sure the public would be safe to use them. Enter Josh Eggleston and his desire to deliver less services to the public by not overtaxing the DPW employees who were charged with the tasks of the parking lots and sidewalks. I cannot say for sure of his reasoning, but I do know for sure there are enough employees and equipment available to do this maintenance, which had been done for years prior. In regards to the DDA purchase of the former Harding's parking lot, which is now crumbling, this was a colossal waste of tax dollars, but a great deal for Greg Bennett, who was already renting the lot to the city. Now, when it needs to repaved, the taxpayers take it on the chin again. Don't let the DDA says they will pay for it... they operate with tax dollars paid by other property owners in the city. Many of these property owners are businesses that have had to pay for their own parking lots at their place pf business, thereby exposing a true irony. You see, when you build a business, the permitting process dictates that you have to have enough on site parking. So they paid for theirs, now they paid for the DDA's waste of money. Let's talk sidewalks, which have always been a hot button subject in Wayland, especially, when it comes to where and why. Over the years, the city has come to listen to the planners and engineers when it comes to grow, and along with the growth, sidewalks. Now the city, through its agents, dictate when sidewalks are needed. We are told that PCI ultimately reviews site plans and makes sure all things are attended to. Take a drive down Reno Drive and see the sidewalks that were required to be put in and used by the public. You will see a relatively new side'walk that the owners of the self storage facility south of Harding's the new facility) was required to put in, seemingly to connect to the General RV sidewalk, that they also were required to put in per ordinance. Now look at the non existent sideway that the Union Millwrights Carpenters trade school was required (or not) to put in for the use to access their facility. Are you now wondering, as I have for several years, how did this happen? Who signed off on that? I bring up sidewalks because it is one of most basic improvements for the benefit of the public that we need and use daily, as we do our roads. The city has a duty to maintain them, including snowplowing, just as they do the roads. They have no problem cleaning the downtown sidewalks, but under Eggleston's leadership, opted not to give the same service to other parts of the city. This is wrong and must be changed. I would volunteer to serve on a committee to come up with solutions for this and the parking issues, and hell for that matter, the whole street and infrastructure need for Wayland. I see a total failure for future planning when it comes to traffic, streets and DPW services, which in the past had been taken care of by the manager and staff, with input from the City Council. The emphasis on "Downtown Wayland" as the pretty new sign, placed not downtown, but out by the highway says, has blinded the council and DDA. Real needs of the whole town need to addressed and soon, as we cannot afford to put off the obvious. We don't need more flowers and benches, we need infrastructure and people to maintain it.

Well said RG, it is beyond time to get to task on the real work. Enough celebrating and living under the myth that all that is needed is to attract business and "beautify downtown." Real issues have been ignored for far too long. Too many excuses and misappropriations of funds have occurred. Play time is over, the real work is on your desk!