Letter to the Editor: The state of our “Gem City”

Approximately 4 weeks ago I attended my very first ever City Council meeting on July 15, 2024.  I was there to voice my opinion and concerns of the conditions of our town frequently referred as “The Gem City” and our very poorly kept streets, roads, sidewalks, etc…

This just makes me wonder…does our Mayor, the City Council, our Elected and NON-elected officials and/or appointed or newly hired city employees really feel this way and could actually not realy care about our town. 

I reside in Ward 7, Ben Usliak (sp) and Jack Holtschlaugh (sp) truthfully DO NOT keep up on their responsibility to the city tax payers after being elected by … US! I had been jumping through hoops trying to get something done with the area of 2nd and Kentucky.  I had called and emailed, even spoke face to face with one of them when our paths crossed.  I then called City Hall and made all the rounds and repeat calls on a steady basis, and still nothing UNTIL WE HAD THE POTHOLE FIX EVENT IN QUINCY. AND AN EVENT IT WAS. 

The City came out and fixed our little road like a champ. It was great…..until about 3 months ago when I noticed all of the overgrowth of weeds and trees wrapping around each other at the tops because they hung low enough to tangle together. I also prayed every night that we nor our neighbors houses were to catch on fire.  You couldn’t find the fire hydrant without physically walking over to the area you believe it should be, and pulled back the weeds and trees that had swallowed it.  I showed many pictures to the council, the Mayor, as well as looked my Ward councilmen in the face several times, just to get a blank stare.  I was able to share my information I had gathered and researched to the best of my ability at the time. 

The last thing Mr. Troup, our Mayor said as my time had ended and I turned to walk back to my seat, “Thank you Ms. Miller we will get on this right away”. 

The following week there was a crew down in my area clearing out all the weeds and trees to free our fire hydrant and trim a little bit of the hill on the East side. I am very thankful and grateful for what you were able to do. I only hope you don’t forget about the damaging potholes to vehicles alignment, as well as possibly getting in contact with the new owners of the old Eagles Nest and get on them about the hill behind the hotel.  They could even ask them what they plan on doing with the concrete that was dumped down the hill out into the street and all the plumbing pipes dumped in what I refer to as, “The Rabbit Hole.”

A week after that Aldermen Fletcher make a statement during the meeting, “see had a young lady just walk in here and complain about one area and POOF, IT WAS BEING WORKED ON THE VERY NEXT WEEK.  It may look and seem that way but it was a LOOONNNNGG TIME COMING. I immediately made a post via my Facebook page thanking whomever asked, requested, or told the crew that came down, to come down and do the work they did.  I will sleep better knowing my fire hydrant is now visible. I’m sure, and hope my property management company appreciates this as well as my neighbors. To my actual aldermen in my ward, I’m not here to point fingers or be a “Karen”, I love the area I live in. I’m trying to make a POINT PERIOD!!!

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE SWAP PROGRAM????? Why can’t the QPD and Adam Yates get together with the Adam’s County Sheriff’s Office and coordinate the individuals that are currently living on our dime and get “3 hots (meals) and a cot,” as they refer to it, to get up and go assist our city workers with this issue?  There is nothing mean or wrong with a little labor every now and then. Keeps your heart pumpin.  MAYBE, you will hate it enough that you don’t end up in jail again, doing it all over again.  Just a thought…..

 On Sunday, July 28th I had several police officers in my area, including my backyard and around my house, due to the fact that 2 individuals had being reckless, caused a HIT & RUN accident on 3rd & Maine Street and then proceeded to try and flee the scene by turning down 2nd & Kentucky and literally FLIPPED their car over in the middle of the road and then FLED ON FOOT thru my backyard headed towards Front Street. 

It made me instantly think, “They used this area due to the fact that it was close to the original accident and it would be a great place to try and hide from the police.  Could it be that all of the overgrowth and high grass made it the perfect place in their minds to hide?????  Does anyone realize that since Sunday all I have been able to hear in my head is the “blood curtling screams” coming from the female subject while she laid in pain.  I could hear her from the top of my backyard.

I am not out on some crusade to make a big stir in this town, however, My father retired from a position that MANY CITY, COUNTY, and small and large companies EMPLOYEES relied on to see that they were paid and treated fairly via union negotiations and I have learned soooo much from him. (I’m not naive, I know there are people in this town that talked behind his back and that’s why I admire him so much.. He just “LET THEM” voice their opinion, they are entitled to it in reality. The biggest thing I learned from him is; IF YOU BELIEVE IN SOMETHING, are concerned about WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND YOU,  OR IT SEEMS THAT NO ONE CAN EVEN USE THE COMMON SENSE GOD GAVE EVERYONE, then you use PERSISTANCE,PERSINTANCE PERSENTANCE to try and get something taken care of. 

I’m only 1 person, I know that……I don’t come from “OLD MONEY OR NEW MONEY” in this town, and I don’t have “a certain person” that I can contact about this issue as well as others.  I barely get by working over 40 hours a week to take care of my own financial needs, I’m NOT asking for a handout. However, I do go to work 6 days a week, do the work my employer expects of me and do it all to the best of my ability, as should ALL THE ELECTED OR HIRED CITY WORKERS are expected to.

WE ARE NOT THE GEM CITY OUR ANCESTORS MEANT FOR THIS CITY TO BE. WE ARE A LUMP OF COAL THAT NEEDS A LOT OF POLISHING BEFORE IT WILL EVER “SHINE” AGAIN.

Jami Miller

Quincy