Mayor Boyce Whatley’s pleonastic bloviation printed recently must have a response.
First of all, his statement that Midlothian has complied 100 percent with State of Texas criteria for annexation may be technically correct, however, neglects to mention that during the mandatory meetings held with citizens in the affected areas those city councilmembers might as well have brought along cots and slept during the sessions where citizens stated perfectly sound reasons for not being annexed.
It’s a shame those State of Texas criteria don’t demand city officials have an open and receptive mind because that sure wasn’t present in any meetings I attended.
They had clearly already made a decision.
As far as that "enhanced" plan he brags about, the truth is, as I understand it, the plan contained nothing above and beyond what the city was mandated by law to provide.
Big deal. I fail to see what he’s so proud about.
Next he whines about parks and the inadequacy of "parks use fees."
What’s his problem?
After all, who sets those fees?
Certainly not those folks who live outside the city limits.
If the fees are inadequate it’s because the mayor, or whomever, failed to set them at an adequate level.
To be a member of the parks board you must be a resident of Midlothian.
Don’t blame us for your stupidity and lack of responsibility.
It’s a similar situation with the Senior Activity Center.
Whose decision is it to set the dues or fees at whatever level they exist?
Once again, those of us who live outside the city limits have absolutely no input regarding them, so please don’t blame us for your inability to maintain proper fees structures.
From where I sit, the City’s governing body is justly deserving of all the damage and mistrust it gets.
And, as far as those of us "freeloaders" having no accountability to anyone, perhaps you might then understand how we feel when vacuous bureaucrats such as you are empowered to make decisions about our freedom and our property, not to mention requiring us to be saddled with your debt, when we weren’t a part of the decision making process.
Talk about lack of accountability – for now.
One final thought.
There are several members of the city council besides the mayor who, in my opinion, need to be retired when they are up for re-election: Dusty Fryer and Wayne Sibley.
Mr. Fryer ran for just about everything and lost until he fell in with the R.I.G.H.T. group and ran for city council as being adamantly opposed to forced annexation.
It sure didn’t take him long to go over to the dark side, turning his back on those who voted for him. And, his endorsement by David Setzer does nothing but confirm my belief.
Next, Sibley obviously is one who does not believe in the democratic process, except when it involves himself, of course.
His response to perfectly valid requests for citizens to be allowed their franchise on questions affecting them: "hardly." How pompous.
Just because forced annexation is legal doesn’t make it right regardless of whether it’s in the Midlothian Charter or not.
Texas is one of only three states allowing such a miscarriage.
Of course, when it comes up before the Legislature to do away with forced annexation, cities from all over cry "foul" and lobby hard to get the measure killed.
Forced annexation is nothing less than pure property theft under the color of law.
City officials, including Mayor Whatley, make all these high sounding arguments for annexing people who don’t want to be annexed, but the bottom line is it’s all about money.
They look at us and see dollar signs.
All that additional tax revenue flowing into city coffers they will then be able to waste like they’ve done on so many projects.
Annexation?
Thanks, I’ll pass.
Duff Hale
Midlothian
