Last night Mayor Hobgood conducted a town hall meeting for the citizens of Canton to share any and all concerns they might have about Canton. I estimate that there were about 50 people in attendance. The only topic discussed, with the exception of a passing comment or two, was fire protection and the meeting lasted a little over two hours.
I listened for about one and a half hours before commenting. I opened my comments with a question that I have asked repeatedly for the entire four and a half years I have been in office. The question I asked was, "Why should the City of Canton exist at all?" I gave the audience, many of whom are usually quite vocal, an opportunity to respond. There was silence. Dead silence. Not one single person in the room offered one single reason for the city to exist. Yet earlier in the meeting when a citizen dared to suggest eliminating the city and thus eliminating the additional taxes that Canton residents have to pay, many people laughed, snickered and a few even made snide remarks - the very same people who offered no reason for the city to exist. I went ahead and made my comments and then yielded the floor to others.
Later on at the very end of the meeting I asked the question again and finally I got a response. It was from Mayor Hobgood and his answer was absolutely correct. Those in attendance heard the answer and I hope they will remember it and pass it on to everyone they know who cares anything about our city.
