Polk Times

City Of Haines issued the following announcement on Oct. 21.

THIS IS YOUR CITY GOVERNMENT, GET INVOLVED IN IT 

Thomas Jefferson said “The government closest to the people serves the people best.”

We couldn’t agree more. 

This week Haines City joined cities throughout the state in celebrating Florida City Government Week, sponsored by the Florida League of Cities.

You would be hard-pressed to find a government closer to the people than a city government. Our citizens usually know the candidates who run for local office and know where to find them once they are elected. 

City governments meet close to their citizens at regularly scheduled meetings and citizens are afforded the opportunity to come to the meetings and speak their minds about any topic they chose.

It is a lot easier to feel you are part of the city government and that it serves you when you can pick up the phone or write an email to a city commissioner and get a response. The further you get from city hall, the less engaged you might feel about the government.

We know that city government is not perfect but the elected officials and employees of the city really do try to provide the best customer service for the citizens of Haines City.

And when we fall short, we hear about it directly from the people we serve. That’s exactly what the “closet to the people” quote from our Founding Father meant. 

We wouldn’t have it any other way.

But good government is a two-way street. It takes more than just voting for a candidate and hoping they do a good job to keep that “closet to the people" thing going. 

It takes your interest and participation in government, too.

Here are just a few things you can do to get involved in your local government:

Thomas Jefferson said, “The government closest to the people serves the people best.”o attend meetings!  Upcoming meetings are listed on the city's website. Can’t make it to the meeting? Well, there is good news on that front.  Just this week, Haines City Commissioners approved the purchase of equipment that will allow citizens to view meetings live on the internet.  Look for upcoming details on when those live streams will begin.

STAY INFORMED: Read local newspapers and websites. Follow the news about the city. Also, follow city news on our website and social media channels. The city has Facebook pages that focus on city government, the police and fire departments, parks and recreation, and the city library. Social media is an excellent way to keep up with and comment on city affairs.. the Police Department Pension Board, the Street Naming Committee, and the Parks and Rec Advisory Board. If you are interested in helping out, contact the City Clerk’s Office and ask for an application. 

HELP OUT WITH EVENTS: Outdoor and community events more of your thing? Then maybe help out with the Parks and Recreation Department. We host various special events throughout the year where volunteers are welcomed. Contact the Parks and Rec department to get a volunteer application.

STAY INFORMED: Read local newspapers and websites. Follow the news about the city. Also, follow city news on our website and social media channels. The city has Facebook pages that focus on city government, the police and fire departments, parks and recreation and the city library. Social media is a good way to keep up with and comment on city affairs.

We encourage you to get involved in city government. The more you participate in your government the more you prove Thomas Jefferson right.

Original source can be found here.