Build Bridges Not Walls to Our Residents

By Jackie Klofta

Involved Residents Make a Stronger Community.

I would, as a Trustee, reach out to residents, rather than expect the residents to come to me.

I am not satisfied with just publishing my phone number and email on a website and sitting back and waiting for residents contact me. I strongly feel the burden is on my shoulders to see we have well informed residents. So, I will take the first step to contact residents.

Throughout the past months I have personally walked and talked to people in neighborhoods and have kept a record of resident concerns. I have kept a record of each person I have talked with along with their specific feedback. If I am elected Trustee, I will continue to walk and talk the neighborhoods to gather this information and keep it in my database.

When these concerns arise during Township business, I intend to contact said individuals who I have talked with so they know first hand the actions that the Township is taking to address their concern. I will personally let them know when the meetings are planned to so they may make plans to attend.

If elected, I also intend to bring my own laptop computer to each meeting and record in my resident database the attendance and the issues the residents bring forward. I will do this so I can follow-up with the residents and keep a strong communication link with the residents.

I plan on fostering a volunteer program for residents and high school students. I have already contacted a high school principal and, if elected, I am ready to start a program for high school students to participate in so they can learn first hand about local government. The high school principal was very receptive to this idea.

On a similar note, I will do the same for adults. I will not ignore the intelligent and hard working resource of the residents, many of whom have college degrees or higher. For the past four years I was a member of the Sycamore Schools Planning Commission, and head Chair for the last two years. I gained a great perspective and respect for Symmes residents from their tremendous willingness to volunteer. It is a waste not to use this resource.