Reflections

Normally I leave reflections to my other blog My Journey of Enlightenment but considering I'm going to do so here.

It was 1 year ago this month that the world as Gonzales knew it started to go through one of the most turmoil of times. A very split council, lots of accusations, lots of people upset, and it didn't matter where you stood politically you weren't very happy with what was going on in our city government.

We had issues from our council all the way down to several employees within our city. We had state agencies coming in from TCEQ, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Rangers, LCRA, and others all not happy with the city of Gonzales. Many of them speaking at our council meetings letting us know we were dropping the balls in many areas.

I went to the council meeting last week and afterwards I reflected where we are today.

We've made HUGE changes in management. We've made huge stride (not that there isn't further to go - but give credit where it's due) in working transparently in our city. We've replace several employees that were either crooked or over their heads.

JB Wells is on the rebound. Our concessions are making money (how? we leased them out). We are actually charging for the services we were suppose to be charging for. We aren't financially bleeding the citizens of Gonzales dry over a rodeo arena.

Our city manager is letting the council know BEFORE contracts are being entered into, and asking their blessing, rather than trying to fly below the radar, even when he has the authority to sign the contracts already. We have public access to all checks written. He manages our city AND still goes out and listens to what the citizens are doing in social functions (something some of the previous managers didn't do).

We have a new financial officer. This one is brand new, but the fact that the old one who failed to reply to Tx Unemployment on time, failed to report proper income, failed to give the department managers timely and CORRECT information is gone is a blessing. The interim found undeclared deposits, accounts improperly posted, and helped get the accounting system on track, something that was always 'in the pile' for the previous one.

I see a council that actually can get along and not only be civil, but can exchange thoughts and ideas for the first time in probably 6 - 8 years. They've grown one of our biggest assets, Victoria College. They've brought new business in, and the rumblings I hear under the surface is that several more businesses, places for adults and our teenagers can work have either purchased or are looking for places to move into Gonzales. That's not counting the surveying stakes across the street from HEB where a Super Walmart is suppose to move in. Hotels, restaurants, and other businesses all looking and/or moving in.

A year ago I'm not sure I would of thought we would be here so quickly. I figured our council would still be bickering, and we'd still be figuring our way out of all the mess we were standing in last February.

Do we have more to go? Oh my, you bet we do! But as we continue to move forward, let's not forget what all has been accomplished. Let's remember that we were knee deep in alligators and honestly not very marketable to an outsider, and let's NOT go back that way again.

I know there are still a handful of tough issues the council and our city manager has to cross off their list. Not fun ones. But I have confidence when I reflect back in another year we can once again be better off than we are today.

God Bless,
Dennis Nesser