By Council Member Ken Suer
WHAT IF the original settlers from Montgomery, New York had decided to create a settlement twenty or fifty miles away?
Well, there might be a Montgomery, Ohio today but it wouldn’t be right here.
WHAT IF the 1993 proposal to merge Montgomery and Symmes Township had succeeded?
Well, there is no doubt the new entity would have been larger in size and population. Would it have been better for every one? Not enough people were convinced – hence, no merger.
WHAT IF our sister city was not Neuilly Plaisance in France but another city in some other country?
Well, the people in NP would not be celebrating our 4th of July Independence Day and we would not be celebrating Bastille Day.
WHAT IF Montgomery had not started the Montgomery Citizen’s Leadership Academy (MCLA) in 2007?
Well, we would not now be heading towards having 400 graduates of this excellent program.
WHAT IF the tornado of April 9, 1999 had been worse for Montgomery than it was?
Well, it was bad enough. Destroyed homes, 65 people injured, 4 people killed. The City spent $500,000 to clean up – and that was in 1999 dollars. Stay alert and be prepared – it could happen again.
WHAT IF The teardown/rebuild of homes trend that started in 2002 had not started?
Well, our housing stock would keep getting older and older. People desiring a new house with new amenities would move elsewhere. Some people would improve their older home – others would not.
WHAT IF someone wanted to get something to eat in Montgomery?
Well, for a small town, we have a pretty impressive list of restaurants serving quite a variety of appetizing fare. Of course, we also have a number of specialty food shops, a great farmer’s market and the centrally located “little” Kroger. Food is indeed available in Montgomery!
WHAT IF Montgomery did not have a very regular and robust program of roadway maintenance?
Well, if you added up all of our roads, streets, lanes, circles drives, alleys etc. we have plenty to keep up with. It certainly costs money but the alternative is to put things off until it costs MUCH more to repair.
WHAT IF at the fast rate that AI (artificial intelligence) is progressing, eventually the only City staff member would be our in-house tech guru, Matthew Vanderhorst, who would be overseeing a group of advanced robots.
Of course, City Council would have been replaced too. Matthew, however, would have to stay very alert and be very paranoid.
WHAT IF with the recent solar eclipse back in April the “path of totality” had been RIGHT OVER Montgomery?
Well, City Manager Brian Riblet, despite all of his contacts and relationships, could not get the path adjusted. One of his very few failures.
WHAT IF my wife and I had decided to buy a house somewhere else 35 years ago?
Well, years later I still think we made a GREAT decision to live in our EXCELLENT community! Hopefully you feel the same!