Letter to the Editor

City employees represent the city

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

To the editor:

I was in Walker Park on Nov. 5 (Monday) around 9:30 a.m. when one of our city Public Works truck pulled into the park. The driver of the truck pulled the truck up to one of the trash cans on the grass while the passenger got out of the truck to take a leak on one of our city trees.

I stopped my vehicle and the guy watering our city trees quit what he was doing and proceeded to play with the trash can which the other guy had already changed the trash bag on. I know this would be a good time for a "how many idiots does it take to change a trash bag" joke, but I was not in a joking mood after seeing such a site.

If it had been a wino, I probably would not have thought twice about what had just unfolded under my eyes, but this was two of our city's representatives. Yes, I said representatives. If you work for the city of Blytheville, you are what people see and what they judge your city on. No matter where you are in the city, you should be on your job, representing Blytheville, not breaking the law, driving on the grass and urinating on trees.

If I drove my vehicle into the park, up on the grass and took a leak on a tree, guess where I would be right now. Just imagine if I was from out of town, thinking of relocating here with my family, or maybe thinking of bringing in a business ... I'm driving through a city park and see a city work truck bypass a public restroom so a city employee can urinate on a tree.

I have heard many people say that we need to do drug tests and background checks on all city employees. I think an IQ test would be so much more helpful.

Grant Massey
Blytheville