Comments on: GUEST COLUMN: Disinterest, disinvestment, and disillusion http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/guest-column-disinterest-disinvestment-and-disillusion/ A Forum for Our State's Future Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:40:29 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Duane http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/guest-column-disinterest-disinvestment-and-disillusion/comment-page-1/#comment-4259 Duane Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:27:12 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=2108#comment-4259 Until the develop metrics for their service performance they will continue to loss value in th eyes of the public and those who fund them. Simply saying there are few park sites open is not a metric nor a measure of their perfromance. Until the develop metrics for their service performance they will continue to loss value in th eyes of the public and those who fund them.

Simply saying there are few park sites open is not a metric nor a measure of their perfromance.

]]> By: Gordon White http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/guest-column-disinterest-disinvestment-and-disillusion/comment-page-1/#comment-4258 Gordon White Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:04:25 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=2108#comment-4258 Are there good figures out there (that The Center for Michigan could publish as a follow-up) that indicate how much we spend on environmental quality that returns in the form of revenue from tourism? I don't believe every penny paid out must be justified in this way, but I suspect that keeping the environment pristine (or making it more pristine) and keeping up recreational facilities and services will pay for themselves. But I'd like to see some data. Are there good figures out there (that The Center for Michigan could publish as a follow-up) that indicate how much we spend on environmental quality that returns in the form of revenue from tourism? I don't believe every penny paid out must be justified in this way, but I suspect that keeping the environment pristine (or making it more pristine) and keeping up recreational facilities and services will pay for themselves. But I'd like to see some data.

]]> By: Don Schurr http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/guest-column-disinterest-disinvestment-and-disillusion/comment-page-1/#comment-4256 Don Schurr Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:37:59 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=2108#comment-4256 I am not sold on the idea that the recombination of the departments will provide the "holistic approach" envisioned - nice idea though. I personally believe the management of outdoor recreation and the related assets should be removed from realm of permitting and environmental enforcement - both are critical. However, the pragmatic response to budgeting issues may require addressing this in a new manner; certainly reforming as the department was in the past is not the answer. Additionally, I am not convinced evaluating the viability of Michigan's environmental "effort" on a per capita basis or asking the average citizen what % of the General Fund is expended on what are good arguments for higher expenditures. Clearly we (all of us as citizens) don't have an understanding of the seriousness of our situation. I do believe we need to holistically examine the situation(s) and allocate resources that first, address issues of health and welfare and second, offer "return on investment" (quality of life and tourism opportunities). I would like to say we need to spend what is necessary to have the jobs done correctly but reality says we must prioritize and allocate scarce resources. I am not sold on the idea that the recombination of the departments will provide the "holistic approach" envisioned – nice idea though. I personally believe the management of outdoor recreation and the related assets should be removed from realm of permitting and environmental enforcement – both are critical. However, the pragmatic response to budgeting issues may require addressing this in a new manner; certainly reforming as the department was in the past is not the answer. Additionally, I am not convinced evaluating the viability of Michigan's environmental "effort" on a per capita basis or asking the average citizen what % of the General Fund is expended on what are good arguments for higher expenditures. Clearly we (all of us as citizens) don't have an understanding of the seriousness of our situation. I do believe we need to holistically examine the situation(s) and allocate resources that first, address issues of health and welfare and second, offer "return on investment" (quality of life and tourism opportunities). I would like to say we need to spend what is necessary to have the jobs done correctly but reality says we must prioritize and allocate scarce resources.

]]> By: John Saari http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/guest-column-disinterest-disinvestment-and-disillusion/comment-page-1/#comment-4257 John Saari Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:26:59 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=2108#comment-4257 We can not afford to protect every lake and stream. But we must be able to quickly respond to and fully prosecute, complaint driven "Legitimate" PUBLIC CONCERNS John Saari Wexford County Commissioner and Chairman of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee We can not afford to protect every lake and stream. But we must be able to quickly respond to and fully prosecute, complaint driven "Legitimate"
PUBLIC CONCERNS
John Saari Wexford County Commissioner and Chairman of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee

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