My Last for Videos

  What are we going to do about workforce housing? If nothing is done what is the economic impact for the future? What is the Town of Highlands going to do to address this issue? What is Macon County going to do? What is the private sector going to do?

These questions create a complex matrix of issues and problems to be addressed. What I do know is that the town can not go it alone in addressing workforce needs. As I have said before, let Highlands pay for it is an outdated saying, we do not have the huge tax resources as some may think to solve this problem.

I was reading the local newspapers this past week and came across a real estate ad that underscored the challenges to expanding the supply of workforce housing. I like to look at the pictures of homes on the market in the many real estate ads in the newspapers. A small blue bungalow on .31 acres located near town caught my attention. I thought to myself this house would be a great place for a working couple to buy here on the plateau. Not a huge home, but a modest house for someone to live and work in Highlands. My immediate impression was it was about $200,000 house, and even at that price a big mortgage payment for working class folks. 

But I was off base, the asking price was $689,000, a price most people can not qualify for that mortgage much less afford. If that were not enough, the picture of a large house posted below the bungalow was listed at 6.2 million dollars. I guessed that anyone buying that house had others scattered across the country or throughout the world, and that the owners would occupy this 6.2-million-dollar home only a few weeks or months out of the year. But when occupying that lugubrious, the owners will want all the local services provided by a workforce, great restaurants, access to healthcare and other amenities. 

Other factors here on the Highlands Plateau create challenges for affordable housing. Construction costs far exceed those in other areas with some homes being built for $1,000 a square foot. Also, large areas of flat land are at best in short supply, especially in the town. Topological distressed lots pose challenges in costs, meeting environmental concerns and simply addressing access to water and sewer or even septic systems.

Previous attempts to gain state and federal government support for workforce housing have not been successful. The state has many criteria for meeting housing grant requirements. With intense competition, especially from more urban areas in the state, it is especially hard for area initiatives to secure funding. 

My concern is that without new supplies of workforce housing, the region will see limited economic prosperity in the future. As new hotels, restaurants, and retailers locate on the plateau, where will the workers come from and live? Also, the housing challenge is not only centered on hourly workers. Professionals like doctors, teachers, and government workers also face the challenge of finding a place to live.

Last year a comprehensive housing study was done for all of Macon County. I hope a coalition of organizations across the county will address the housing needs of community. It is a daunting problem that will take millions of dollars to address. By that I do not mean 10 or 15 million, we are talking about 100 or 150 million dollars and a lot of hard work and creativity. But the effort needs to be made by the entire community. I am open to innovative ideas, just let me know.

Mayor Pat

I would like to thank everyone for the opportunity to serve as Mayor of Highlands for another four years. When I was first elected back in 2013, I never thought I would serve 12 years, let alone 16 years in office.  On that long-ago election night, I was just hoping I could lead the town effectively for just four years.  Strange how things work out.

While in office, I have always tried to keep Highlanders informed about their government operations, town activities, and local issues.  Of course, I have my own viewpoints and biases in my communication efforts, but I strive to keep to the facts and basic information.  My communication efforts center around four methods. 

First, I write a weekly column in the newspapers.  Doing the math means that over the last twelve years, I have written approximately 620 columns. 

I usually write the pieces on either Sunday or Monday so I can meet the newspaper’s deadline of Tuesday evening.  I now use Microsoft Word and compose a draft on my iPad.  After reading it several times, I use the Microsoft editor function to make corrections.  The editor function always gives me an editor score.  If the score is not over 90% I go back and make improvements.  It works like a teacher grading a student’s essay. After I reach the 90% threshold, an A, I send the article to my paid editor for added review.  The editor, Matthew Eberz, sends his revised draft, which I review carefully.  Matthew makes stylistic changes but does not make content changes, as he says, "This is the Mayor's voice, they want to hear your voice, not mine." Sometimes he will ask me questions about whether what I am saying will be clear to the reader, and we work on the language to make it more so.  Finally, I sent the piece to the newspapers for publication.  Sometimes, the newspaper editor reads the article before publishing and may provide additional feedback; I am always appreciative of another point of view.

I know the question some may have is whether I use AI, such as ChatGPT, to compose the articles.  The answer is absolutely not.  I have it on my iPhone, and would never use it for this; these messages I write must be my writings, my thoughts, and my voice.

The second method I use is recording the Ask the Mayor radio program on WHLC.  These recordings are conducted with Steve Day on either Thursday or Friday mornings.  I enjoy working with Steve.  When I fumble and bumble a section of the program, we do it again.  After the recording session, Steve edits out the mistakes and puts together the final recording, which Steve then broadcasts on Sunday morning. Sometimes we have to return to the studio and re-record or cut a section because new information about a town issue has emerged after the initial recording session, and I need to be accurate in my reporting, regardless of whether it takes multiple recording sessions.

The third method of communication I use is the Community Coffee with the Mayor, which takes place on Friday at the Hudson Library after Thursday’s town board meeting.  I hold the coffees during the season from around March to October.  Kasey Klodosky of the Hudson Library coordinates the event and secures sponsors for each session.  I usually have a topic and presentation followed by questions from the audience.  I enjoy the questions and dialogue.

The fourth method of communication is my videos.  For the past four years, I have also authored the AskMayorPat.com website.  This is not an official town website; it is my personal website.  I have funded the production costs out of my own pocket for every one of my videos that appear on the site.  Matthew Eberz, owner of Heritage Productions, serves as both the videographer and editor of the videos.  On many occasions, we try to do the videos at various town locations.  Over the past four years, we have created and posted over 400 short video updates.  I am committed to keeping the issues and "goings on" of this town at the forefront of the public eye.

So, in conclusion, I guess I will be committed to writing, recording, videoing, and speaking for another four years.  Flashback to twelve years ago, and this new Mayor couldn’t have imagined what I am doing now.  And for full disclosure, I love doing it.

MAYOR PAT