An Apology
First, I owe you all an apology. When I wrote a couple weeks ago about the city council agreeing to start doing town hall meetings, I used the term “we.”
As I’ve been meeting more residents while gathering nomination signatures for my city council election campaign, something started to click for me. Sure, I put the website together and wrote the Airbnb petition. Sure, Susan drove most of the people to the petition to sign it. And yes, she and I handed the petition to the city council.
But here’s the truth… It wasn’t really “we” that made the difference. It was you.
Let me explain what I mean. Compared to many of you, Susan and I don’t have as much to lose. We’re newer to this community. For us, speaking up or handing over a petition might feel like just another way to get involved. But for those of you who’ve spent decades in Two Rivers – or even your entire lives – putting your name on a petition that calls out city leaders isn’t just a signature. It’s a bold statement in a town where people don’t always take kindly to complaints or accusations against other members of the community. That takes courage.
And that’s what I’ve come to understand more deeply over these past weeks. Your willingness to take that risk, to stand up and say, “This isn’t working, and we need to do better,” is what truly pushed this forward. You didn’t just sign a petition… You stood up for your community and your neighbors. That’s a big deal.
So, thank you. Thank you for trusting us enough to add your names. Thank you for speaking up. And thank you for showing me that in a town like Two Rivers, it’s the longtime residents—those who’ve built their lives and reputations here—who have the power to make real change happen. Your willingness to stand up is what made all the difference.
What to Expect at the New Town Halls
Now, let me tell you a bit about what these town hall meetings will actually look like, because they’re going to be different from your typical city council meeting.
First, the goal is to make these sessions relaxed and approachable. No formal parliamentary procedure, no podiums, and no votes. These meetings are all about you, the residents. If you’ve ever felt that speaking at a regular council meeting is too intimidating or that you’ll be ignored, these town halls are for you.
Here’s how they’ll work:
- A back-and-forth conversation:Two council members will be there to listen and talk with you about whatever is on your mind. You bring the topics. They’ll hear you out and discuss your concerns right there in the room.
- Quarterly sessions in a more comfortable space:These meetings will happen once every three months, in places like the library or community house or other familiar spots.
- No immediate decisions:While these sessions are focused on hearing your concerns and discussing them, they’re not about making decisions on the spot. If it’s easy to answer, they’ll do so. If it’s more complex, you may be directed to a better resource or given a commitment to follow up. And for larger items that need the full council, those issues can be brought to the council for consideration later at an official meeting.
- An hour of your time: Each meeting will run for at least an hour. That should be plenty of time for you and your neighbors to share what’s important without feeling rushed in a short public comment period.
Whether you’re concerned about what’s happening in the city, have ideas to make Two Rivers better, or just want to hear what others are saying, I hope you’ll come and be part of the conversation. This is a big step toward making sure your voices are heard, and I’m genuinely excited to see the residents and city be more connected again.
Letter from Legal Council to the City Council about how they should conduct the town hall meetings:
