Jan. 4--I'll admit to having done my share (some would say more than my share) of "second-guessing" and "back seat driving" in 2008, when it comes to our fair city with its quaint, brick-lined streets and blinking lights.

Wouldn't want to disappoint anyone by not living up to your expectations.

As we roll into the very first "work week" of 2009, may I offer a few suggestions to get the "project ball" rolling for the new year?

To those who would at this point interject "No," well, that never stopped me before ...

And trust me here -- there is a very important point to be made by this seemingly trivial subject. Work with me, here.

Fix the stoplight, for crying out loud!

You know, the one at Fifth and Beaton Streets, the one that was blinking red/yellow, later changed to red/red.

The city says they are trying to get the old part fixed, but it's so old, it is taking a lot longer to do, and you know, a new one is awfully expensive, blah, blah, blah.

We spend half a million dollars on one block of city street, probably $200,000 (by the time they are done) on our historic railcar -- and we choose to pinch pennies repairing a traffic-light controller that should probably be replaced if it is indeed that old and hard to repair.

I'm sorry. Has someone misplaced the concept of logic at the Government Center?

Oh, I forgot. We knew that already.

Sure, I'm being sarcastic here. I'll admit that.

But its things like this that can make the job of "selling" this city to the outside world as a great, progressive place to live, build and invest in that much harder to do.

Somewhere in the budget game at the Government Center the money to make the city promotion director's position a full-time gig was found.

Think there might be a few dollars laying around to help pay for a new traffic controller?

No, first we have to pay the people who are working on the old traffic controller not to fix it, and then go pick it up.

That's the way we do it here in Corsicana.

A wise man once said, though, that if you're not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem.

In keeping with that spirit, please allow me to offer a suggestion that may help all of our city's "transportation control infrastructure" (that would be your street signal lights)...

How about we take a couple of two-person crews and dedicate a couple of days to surveying every traffic-light controlled intersection the city is responsible for? They could find all the burned out signal lights (and "walk/don't walk lights) that are not working and make a list.

HINT: There are more than just a couple.

Then, take those same two-person crews, and a couple more days, and oh, maybe, I don't know ... fix them?

Why is that important?

Well, there is that whole public safety thing, but I understand that may not be a priority. It hasn't been so far.

There is also a term that a local businessman who is actively involved in trying to build, improve and promote Corsicana is fond of using ...

Pride.

Sure, a traffic light is such a little thing. So are many of the pot holes in our town. But they are still pot holes, plain and simple.

But people, it's the little things that can make or break a deal to build, invest and "buy in" to Corsicana.

And -- perhaps most important -- If we can't do the little things right, do you think business and industrial prospects are going to feel comfortable about us doing the "big things" right?

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Bob Belcher is Managing Editor of the Daily Sun. His column appears on Sundays. He may be reached by e-mail at belcher@corsicanadailysun.com.

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