Ole Seagull not buying the instant P & Z makeover myth

At the May 26 meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen (Board), during Alderman’s Reports, Alderwoman Harkness said, "I also got to go to the planning department and sit in on a meeting with Amanda and her team and that was pretty cool. Amanda, I will say that during the election I heard nothing but negativity about the planning and development department. And since the election, whatever you guys did, there's been a whole lot of encouragement, excitement, hope, kudos. So, it sounds like there's a turn there, and I'm grateful for the work that you guys are doing. Let's continue to do it and I'm excited for that."

The Ole Seagull thought that was strange because before the election, he had attended an event sponsored by then-candidate Alex Williams at the Branson Events Center, at which Alderwoman Harkness not only attended but also participated. The main topic of the meeting was planning and development, and, as would be expected, the same small cabal of complainers filled the session with negative comments, alleging planning and zoning issues, most of which occurred years ago. They gave no credit to the many changes instituted over the last three or four years to help eliminate problems and make the planning and development department the extremely responsive and proficient public servant it is today.

That is, except for one individual who spoke up. He very emphatically pointed out that it may very well have been the way it was in the past, but that he’s just completed a major project downtown, and that’s not the way he saw it. He found the department extremely responsive and helpful.

“But Seagull, if that’s the case, it’s in direct contradiction to Alderwoman Harkness’ statement, ‘Amanda, I will say that during the election I heard nothing but negativity about the planning and development department.’” It appears so, but the plot thickens!

Alderwoman Harkness went on to say, “...And since the election, whatever you guys did, there’s been a whole lot of encouragement, excitement, hope, kudos. So, it sounds like there’s a turn there, and I’m grateful for the work that you guys are doing. Let’s continue to do it, and I’m excited for that.” By framing the department’s improvements within the exact time frame of the election, she implied that a sudden change had occurred since then. Please, give an Ole Seagull a break!

Can anyone who has even a clue about how the planning and zoning process works believe that the changes she has seen and experienced took place in the two months since the election? The Ole Seagull has been involved with the planning and zoning department for the last three or four years. He has personally witnessed the planning department’s development, work and dedication, as well as the current administration’s involvement in the many changes instituted during that period. The very process that the individual at Williams’ meeting experienced and spoke of.

Then why is Harkness, and at least one alderman, trying to create the perception that changes have happened recently since the election? Because they ran on a campaign of alleged major problems with planning and development, knowing full well that the way the department is currently being run addresses and solves most of the problems of the past, and are trying to create the perception that it’s all because of the election. They’ve forgotten the old quote attributed to Lincoln, “You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”