What’s Up, NEPA?/Senior News

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Pa. man claiming disability caught doing yard work, sentenced to prison for perjury

Rather than look at Luzerne County&#8217;s government through the framework of &#8220;them&#8221; (the elected ones) and &#8220;us&#8221; (all the other county residents), start to see it as &#8220;us&#8221; and &#8220;us.&#8221;There is no dividing wall, only the wrong-headed perception that somehow government exists beyond, or above, you. In fact, you have the power. Control is shared among all county residents &#8211; or at least those who choose to participate by routinely voting and/or running for office.You can get involved in other ways, too.Right now, for instance, two opportunities exist to supply input. First, offer your opinion in a citizens survey being conducted as part of the search for Luzerne County&#8217;s next manager. Second, apply to fill an opening on one of Luzerne County&#8217;s authorities, boards and commissions. Details on each of these activities can be found on the county&#8217;s website, <a href="http://www.luzernecounty.org/" target="_blank">www.luzernecounty.org</a>.<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/luzernecountycitizensurvey" target="_blank">The survey</a> requires only a few minutes; it consists of nine, multiple-choice questions. Respondents are asked, for instance, to select &#8220;five of the most pressing problems facing Luzerne County that the new Luzerne County Manager should address immediately.&#8221; The options are: debt owed, lack of employment opportunities, aging infrastructure (bridges, roads etc.), increasing revenue sources (other than property taxes), crime (including gang violence and drugs), fiscal responsibility, county prison facility and overcrowding, lack of public trust and public apathy.A message on the county website encourages people to take either the citizen survey or a similar questionnaire for county workers. &#8220;The citizens of Luzerne County,&#8221; states the message, &#8220;have both the right and responsibility to participate in all phases of county government.&#8221;Anyone who takes seriously his or her civic responsibility also should consider service on a county authority or board. A pressing vacancy exists on the election board, in this case, for a registered Republican. New members also are needed on advisory boards for the Mental Health and Developmental Services Program as well as the airport in Forty Fort. View the full list of boards and find an application at <a href="http://www.luzernecounty.org/county/boards-authorities" target="_blank">www.luzernecounty.org/county/boards-authorities</a>. Or contact Sharon Lawrence, clerk of council, at 570-825-1634.If it&#8217;s &#8220;good government&#8221; you want, answer the call to serve. After all, who better than you to do the job?

Our Opinion: Participate in Luzerne County government through survey and volunteer service