Read the full text of this letter
May 19, 2026
Dear City Council,
Thanks so much for your handling of the TIF issue at the meeting on May 18. It was one of the best examples of good governing that I have been able to witness in my 70 years.
The point of my letter is not about whether I agreed with your decision. It is about HOW you got there. Keeping cool in an emotionally charged environment, and not making "angels and demons" out of the citizens on either side allowed for all of us to learn and consider. The best word I can think of to describe your approach was THOUGHTFUL.
Thoughtful means listening. It means considering before acting. It means respecting each other's views, and not assuming the worst of another.
So, thanks for that. I appreciate you.
Yours, Tim Newton
P.S. I also set a new record for how many Solitaire games I played in an evening while waiting for my agenda item. 🙂
