Dylan Conmy for Ottawa Commissioner

The best way to make the Community feel like they are in the loop and updated is to reach out on a regular basis. There is more to the City than the minutes from the Council meeting on a Tuesday night.

A lot of cities in Illinois, big and small, seem to benefit from City Newsletters. I think Ottawa is a great candidate for this extra communication. Monthly e-newsletters that anyone can sign up for that include important info about the City, updates, event listings, employment opportunities, etc. Plus a letter from the Mayor. Links to the newsletters archived online. And perhaps a monthly writeup/insert in the Wednesday paper for those who prefer that medium. There are so many options for keeping the City updated without it seeming impersonal and stuffy. It's time the City connected with the very people that are going to elect them.

If there are events being held on City property, and vendors are present, there need to be measures in place to assure vendors that there is a Council Member overseeing the fair treatment of vendors by the event planner.

Whether those vendors are from out of the area, or we are embracing our local talent, they need to know that their investment is safe, that their fees are fair and appropriately balanced for event costs, and that they have City contacts to turn to if they have unaddressed concerns. The events represent Ottawa in that moment. There need to be standards of how we are treating our vendors. Vendors don't come back when they are price gouged or treated poorly. The public can tell when the vendors aren't happy, and they don't return. We need to do better for our vendors, no matter what!