What a Nickel Buys

I am the employ of a west coast city. My current work involves large public works projects for which I provide community relations services. This means I notify people of the project, its scope, and impacts. I also work with neighbors and business to address concerns and deliver meaningful input to the design.

I have worked in community relations in this city for 13 years, 8 in crime prevention and 5 on public works projects. I love my job, I’m very good at it, and I work with an awesome team and an amazing public. I have literally seen it all, heard it all, and been abused and loved by the public in the extreme at various times.

I can’t tell you what it means when someone takes the time to send me a card, email, note, or letter to acknowledge the work I’ve done. It’s very true that people are much more likely to do these things when they are unhappy, as opposed to when they are happy. So, take a moment and let your public employees know when you appreciate them, in writting.

On the other hand, here are few tips for when you’re unhappy with us:

#1 “Why do you have do this here? Its going to mean I have to park my car in the next block.” Answer: We have to do it here because this is were the problem is, or this is best place to save money and time. -- As much as a project may inconvenience you personally, remember its not all about you. Its about the greater good, and it is never personal. Frankly, we’re too busy to be pitty; we have 20 or 30 other projects we’re dealing with at the same time and 20 or 30 more coming on-line soon. So we really aren’t trying to make your life impossible. We’re just trying to get the work done.

#2 “We might want to put a driveway in there one day. Why didn’t you think about that in your design?” Answer: We had no idea you were thinking of putting in a driveway. We knew that there might be issues we couldn’t anticipate. That is why we have sent you three different mailings, held two public meetings and left you our business cards. We wanted to know if you had any concerns. -- If you have a problem call us right away, don’t wait, or it may be too late to make adjustments. We want to make the project work for as many people as possible and will make adjustment to the plan as much as we can to address your issues, if konw about them in time. We’re working with public money and trying to stay on schedule and be responsible. We can’t help you with your problem if we don’t know you have one. As many things as we try to anticipate, we can't anticipate everything.

#3 “You have to do what I say, I pay your wages and I’m your boss!!” Answer: Well there is really no answer I can give publicly on this one. At this point you’re just wasting both our time. -- Don’t assume that the money we’re working with is local tax dollars. A lot of the money spent, especially on public works projects, come from federal grants, and billing revenue (water, sewer, etc).

What I’d really like to say to #3 is, “Here’s a nickel, call me in 5 years. Oh yeah, and keep the change.” There are about 300,000 individuals and businesses paying local taxes in my area. If you consider my salary against that, a lot of that nickel will be change. So, don’t make me reach for a nickel!!