Patch Election Q&A: Rob Watermann on Question #5

The question:

How can the village better engage its residents to participate in city government? Very few citizens attend village meetings. How can this be changed? What have you, specifically, done to get more people interested in their government?

We have to keep things in perspective, people are very busy. How many people take the time to even read the daily newspaper anymore? For many people sitting through a village meeting is not their idea of entertainment or of interest. Many nights we honor students, volunteers or organizations at our village meetings. After the honor, most times people sneak out. I would like to think our residents for the most part are satisfied with their village services and this is why we seldom have, if any, complaints. I know many people have commented to me that they watch the meetings on Comcast Cable, so I think there are many more people following the village than the attendance at board meetings would lead you to believe.

In 2011, we need to reach out in different ways to our residents. One of those ways is with our village website and village Facebook page. I supported recently an update to our website specifically because this is the most convenient tool to reach our residents today. Residents who before were frustrated because they could not pay a water bill online will now have that opportunity. I also recommended that instead of spending $11,000 out of the general fund to fund this update that we reach out to our business community and offer them sponsorship opportunities to generate the needed revenue. We have to think outside the box is always my theory. I also suggest that we can place village board meetings for video download on the improved website so that residents unable to make the meeting can view their local government from the comfort of their home and at a time convenient to them.

I have been a strong supporter of the blood drives, beautification efforts, farmers market, senior citizen program, historic preservation progress and Montgomery Fest. Other than the fest, all these programs have started during my tenure on the board. These village efforts are not possible without the many volunteers who make them a reality. Public participation is at an all-time high and that is something to be proud of.