There is much more to local government than what citizens may first think.
Certain things in your world make your life easier each day. Running water, paved roads, clean parks and streets. These are all services we depend upon, and likely do not think often about what is behind the scenes.
But in the cases of these services, it’s local government that is making your community run well and is closest to the people. Local government brings about the features you use and depend upon in your day-to-day lives, and they are at work around the clock in Springfield.
Not only that, but local government is the closest level of government to you in another way. Your local elected officials and Springfield city employees are your neighbors and your friends. You see them at the store, your place of worship, your community events. They are completely vested to make sure the right decisions are made here at home because those same decisions affect their own lives and loved ones. In addition, our form of local government is non-partisan because partisanship is best applied for higher level (i.e., state and federal) policy making and not day-to-day service delivery.
Some examples of recent Springfield projects that affect you are: the Forward SGF comprehensive planning process; Grant Avenue Parkway; Renew Jordan Creek, Lake Springfield Area master planning; the Mayor’s Initiative on Equity & Equality’s adopted recommendations; Springfield Police Department crime prevention campaign and Springfield Fire Department’s Project Red Zone.
This week is Missouri’s Local Government Week. I encourage you to pause for a moment and thank someone who works in local government. Consider a social post on social media sharing how you have benefitted from a local service and use the hashtag #molocalheroes.
Those of us in local government are proud to serve. We see the great projects happening in Springfield and the potential for even more to come. We are excited to work for the betterment of our community and thank you for the opportunity.
All Day. Every Day. Local Government Works For You.
Ken McClure Jason Gage
Mayor City Manager