Democracy on the Front Lines
City Administrator’s Blog
Walter Denton
March 5, 2008
Did you know this is Local Government Week? In March 2007, the Illinois General Assembly proclaimed the first full week in March each year as "Local Government Week," to help Illinois residents understand the role that local government plays in our individual lives and communities.
We experienced an essential role of local government just yesterday. As the freezing rain, sleet, and snow fell in O’Fallon, Public Works crews from the City of O'Fallon were salting and plowing the streets all day and all night so residents could travel to work, school, or wherever they needed to go.
Your local government also provides vital public safety services through the Police Department, EMS/Ambulance, and Volunteer Fire Department. Roads are repaired, repaved, and reconstructed by your local government. The water in your house is distributed by your local government, and when you flush your toilet your local government takes it away and treats it. City parks are maintained and recreation programs are managed by your local government. The O’Fallon Public Library is provided by your local government. Building safety inspections and code enforcement are conducted by your local government. This blog is provided by your local government.
Local government is the closest to the people, and you are more directly affected by your local government than by any other unit of government: state, federal or otherwise. Our mission is to maintain a high quality of life while being trusted stewards of taxpayer money. The Mayor and City Council work long hours for very little money to make O’Fallon a great city. Residents may disagree with specific decisions made by the City Council, but I don’t think anyone can dispute the commitment to our community by the City’s elected officials.
In a community survey conducted in April 2007, O’Fallon residents indicated they are pleased with City services and enjoy living in O’Fallon. The survey results showed that 83% of respondents are pleased with the Overall Quality of Life, 72% are pleased with Overall Quality of City Services, 90% are pleased with O’Fallon as a place to live, and 77% have a positive overall impression of City employees.
We are proud of the positive results but also are mindful that we must prove ourselves to the community every day. I would like to thank City employees for their commitment to providing excellent services to the residents of O’Fallon and also thank the residents for being so supportive of me and the City of O’Fallon over my five years as your city administrator.
Happy Local Government Week!
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