One on One: Mary Ann Gardner

How much longer will Cedar Grove operate as an independent city?  Two newly elected city commissioners are hoping to work toward changing the town charter, so residents can vote on the issue.

One of those recently elected, Mary Ann Gardner, says she ran on the platform of dissolving the city and turning it back over to the county. Gardner says residents she speaks to, are in favor of making the change.

The process involves the attorney writing up the ordinance, and then commissioners getting it on a ballot through the supervisor of elections office. Gardner says she believes the 3,300 registered voters will have a chance to cast a ballot before the year is over.

To hear more on why Commissioner Gardner believes the city will be dissolved within a year, click below.

Posted by on 05/01 at 06:41 PM
------------------------

I hope that Ms Gardner completes her mission to destory Cedar Grove, she can still look at herself in the mirror each morning.  Where does she think the employees of Cedar Grove are going to get other jobs in this day and time, I hear that Bay Co. is in a hiring freeze, so will she step up and pay their house payments, car payments,utilites, buy groceries, pay for their children to get medical treatment, I think not, some of these employees may become homeless because of her and her fellow commissioners fool hardy efforts.

I hope that when she sits down to eat she can get her food down and while she is doing this think that soon others will not this option because without jobs there will be choices to make, to buy food or pay bills with what little they can collect on unemployment or miminum wage jobs.

I will pray for her and hope she can ask God to intercede and help these employees in their search for new jobs.

Above comment posted by  on  05/02  at  05:58 PM
------------------------

After listening to this interview, I am still concerned that residents of Cedar Grove actually believe they can avoid paying their share of the new sewer system. The other three cities involved are also concerned that they will be forced to pay Cedar Grove citizens debt which is in the millions of dollars. Residents knew this debt would have to be paid when it was installed. Are they willing to disconnect from it to avoid paying for it? This will leave the entire city without sanitation services. The county needs to publically address this problem and they should do it soon before any vote is taken to dissolve Cedar Grove. I doubt the city can file for bankruptcy and eliminate the debt without losing service. I know that I am NOT going to pay for Cedar Grove residents sewer debt. I live in Springfield and pay my share. Springfield is in much worse shape that Cedar Grove. It is just covered up better.

Above comment posted by  on  05/02  at  09:35 PM
------------------------