By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise
The end may be near for the city government of Howardwick if people don’t get involved with their community.
This is the word from Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Hubbard who says the city needs people to step up and run for office this year to keep the city going.
Currently, Howardwick is operating with just four aldermen after Tanis McMories left the board last year and Del Essary resigned as mayor over a year ago.
Hubbard, the city’s mayor pro tem, has retained his voting power on the board by not stepping up to fill Essary’s position.
Officials say the city has been troubled by a lack of people willing to take an interest and either run for office or be appointed to office.
Last year’s city election drew only one candidate for, at that time, three vacant aldermen’s positions, and no candidates for Essary’s unexpired term, resulting in the election being canceled.
Hubbard says if no one runs this year, the board will not have a quorum come May, and legal advisors have told him that will mean the city government would effectively be dissolved.
“We will have to lock the doors, the state will come in here and pay the bills, and there will no longer be a City of Howardwick,” Hubbard said. “There will be no mowing, no trash service, no fire department, and no regulations at all.”
Howardwick City Hall reports three people have picked up applications for office, but filing for those positions won’t begin until January 30.
The city will have a town hall meeting next Tuesday, January 29, at 7 p.m. in Howardwick City Hall to discuss the community’s future and try to attract people to serve on the board.
Hubbard says he believes his community will rally and have people fill the open positions, but he wants them to know the situation.
“I want them to be aware of what’s going on, and it’s time for someone to step up and pick up the slack,” he said.
The lack of interest is a nationwide issue. The culture of service is going away with each passing older person and what is left are people who “expect someone else to step up, not them.” I coached little league and served on the board for 13 years of a league with 640 children however when it came time for a work day at the fields to get them ready for that years play 6 to 8 people would show up to do the work for all.