I hope is this is a good place to see how others in the community feel about Lawton’s Mayor and the current City council?

The following are the greatest concerns I personally have:

1.    Crime

2.    Taxes

3.    City Infrastructure

4.    Urban Renewal

5.    Neighborhood Services

Crime: 

I believe this goes without saying.  I have personally noticed a HUGE increase in crime across the city in the past five years.  I listen to a police scanner at night, and I have a hard time in understanding why the Lawton Police Department has calls holding over 2+ hours?  Let me be crystal clear, I do not hold any blame to the fine officers here in Lawton.  I believe we have some of the finest officers in the country.  I just feel the City council could support the police department a lot more.  It’s all about Priorities.  Safety should be at the top of the list.

I understand money is tight with the City, so I have a few suggestions for helping the City, & the Lawton Police Department.  One of the simplest solutions would be to cut fuel cost in HALF, and speed up calls.  This would be to add two officers per car.  By doing this simple idea, you would cut operating cost in half by maintenance, Insurance, and replacement cost.

With the money saved, the department could hire more officers, and place them in high crime areas.

Taxes:

I have been researching tax rates across the state, and also comparing cities with population equal or near the City of Lawton.  The Mayor, and the City Council would like YOU to believe: Lawton’s Sales tax rates are in line with other cities in the State?  Well, They are referring to OKC, and Tulsa I may agree?  There is a major problem in my view:  One, Lawton is not OKC, or Tulsa!  The only city in the state close to Lawton would have to be Norman.  Norman is able to manage its city with a tax rate of 7.5%, with the States 4.5%.  Check for yourself:  http://oktax.geo.ou.edu/cgi-bin/otc.cgi?ft=db&template=OTCMuniSearchPage.htm&code=STS&vn=9

Compare the different Cities across Oklahoma for yourself.

City Infrastructure:

One of the few things I can agree with the Mayor, and City Council.  The infrastructure has been neglected far to long here in Lawton.  This past summer, some of my old high school friends came to visit.  All of the former Lawtonians were surprised at how Lawton has turned into a dump.  To say the least, I was embarrassed.

Urban Renewal:

In my family, this is a very bad word.  I am old enough to remember Old Downtown Lawton.  I get a punched gut feeling, when I think about what was done to the City of Lawton.  It is really sad to even have to think about it.  Now, some of the same people want to fix it again.  Well, I say fine!  As long as it is NOT at the Taxpayers expense.  You broke it, You fix it.  Just don’t ask the taxpayers to pay for Any Part Of It.

If the City wants to plant trees, and add bricks to crossways, then I say:  “That’s sound cool!”  Not at the taxpayers expense!  I know the Lawton community well enough to know that there are organizations, and businesses that would be willing to help in funding, and fundraising.  With added State and Federal Grants, the city could take Pride in the knowing the Citizen of Lawton came together in building and funding a new Lawton.  What is the big rush?  I may not want to know the answer to that question…

Now, the gardening, and fancy little brick crossways will not clean up the buildings around the downtown area.  So, Urban Renewal wants to take properties, and give to big outfits to build condos, strip malls, ECT.  Real nice, been there, done that.  We now have a Mall right dead center of the City.  Thank You Urban Renewal!

Here is where the city should consider tax incentives, and working with the local state representatives in securing tax breaks from the state, for the city of Lawton.   Isn’t this why we send them there?  It will be the same with the big builders Urban Renewal wants to give control to.  They will have their hands out before the first Brick is laid.  Any side bets?   Call me old fashion, but I have more faith in my local brothers, and sister in catering to Lawton’s needs, then some outsider at the taxpayer’s expense.

Bigger government, just means bigger messes…

Neighborhood Services:

The best for last:  Here I can agree with the Mayor, to a point.  The city is an embarrassment.  Someone who has called repeatedly to Neighborhood Services, only to be told we would send someone out, and…  “I stopped at 13, I no longer call”.  Personally, I do not know what the city pays out for the Neighborhood Services, but I am sure it could be well spent elsewhere.  A complete waist of money.

If the city needs laws to enforce cleaning up properties, then enact them.  If you have them, then enforce them.  If you can’t enforce them, replace the city attorney.

I have lived in six different Cities in my lifetime.  Rapid City has near half the population of Lawton, and a 6.5% sales tax.  This city also has a convention center that would make any city the size of Lawton cry for.  As for the other five cities, with near population levels, all have lower tax rates, water rates, and they all have a PRO Business Environment. 

None of the cities have worn out Laundry mates, bars, and pawnshops littering their cities.  They all have fines for that kind of stuff, 0 tolerance, no matter who their legal council maybe…

I guess my personals biggest complaint with Lawton’s Mayor and his City Council would be they never follow through.  The Mayor has been talking a good game about cleaning up the city, but what has he really done about it, but talk?  Wait, my bad, they did buy an automatic trash hauler!  Call me old fashion, but I do not get it.  So, the argument is:  it will save on insurance, and one lese employee per truck?  I maybe wrong, I have been told so many different reason for it, none that I can really understand, other than I would like to hire the salesman or woman who sold it to the Mayor and the Council.  He or she is good!

Before I would spend Tens of Millions of the Taxpayers money, I would of considered requesting bids from Private Contractors for hauling trash, and Landfill management.  Lawton is one of the few Cities it’s size, who still hauls, and maintains it’s own garbage.  I wonder why that is?

Mr. Purcell has informed me: If I do not like Lawton, why do you stay.  No one is keeping you here.  The problem with his quote is I do like Lawton.  I just don’t like my representatives…

I think the citizens of Lawton should send a strong message to the Council and our Mayor in the Next Election.  All incumbents should be voted out.