By Staff
Chuck Bodiford Publisher
The second and fourth Monday of every month, I have the opportunity to attend the City Council meeting at 4 p.m. There in the Council Chambers, the meeting is opened with the pledge, business is conducted and then the meeting adjourned. Directly before the adjournment of the meeting, Mayor Shell asks for questions or concerns from the audience. This is the perfect opportunity for us as citizens to bring to light anything that we might have on our mind. However, the council is rarely taken up on this opportunity; an opportunity to make sure that those over our districts know our thoughts on certain areas.
Would you consider yourself as a role model? When I think of role models, I generally think of those people that I look up to for something they do or did. These people are always other people, never myself and fit my definition usually by their influencing others in a positive nature. Many times these people or role models freely give their opinion on any number of subjects. A couple of role models that I admire are John Mims who I worked with at Harco Drugs, MSgt Ernie McNair, who was a supervisor of mine for most of my Air Force Career, and naturally my dad for helping shape me into the man I am today.
Last Monday, during the meeting, before adjournment, when the chance was presented for the audience to address the council, a resident of Atmore took the opportunity. Mr. Roy Sanders expressed two different matters that he felt concerned him and his fellow neighbors. Since I have begun attending the council meetings, I have noticed this is not the first time that Sanders has addressed this council on a specific matter. Would you consider him a role model? I would. Not content to just sit back, Sanders has taken it upon him to point out areas of concern and possible suggestions to hopefully address these concerns. Sanders, provides a model for us all to follow, one that doesnot sit back and just let things happen, but one that takes an active part in trying to improve our city.
When I first began this column, my first sentence states that I have the opportunity to attend the City Council meetings, but i should read "we"have the opportunity to attend these meetings. I hope to see you at the next one on Monday, April 12 at 4 p.m.
Chuck Bodiford is an Atmore native and publisher of the Advance. He may be reached by calling 368-2123 or by email at chuck.bodiford@atmoreadvance.com