Glade Spring Boasts Many Milestones

Five years ago, I was part of a small group of citizens concerned about the direction that Glade Spring was going with regard to both the openness of its government and its ability to envision the future of the community.
Today, I am happy to report that Glade Spring is among the most functional and forward-thinking small communities to which I have been witness. (As a former, long-serving government reporter in South Dakota, I can boast a large experience with small town governance).
Each one of our Town Council members is an intelligent, honest individual with the best interests of the community at heart. Each one brings special gifts to the process of running our town, and each one has contributed to the impressive growth and advancement of our community.
We in Glade Spring also are blessed with council members who are not afraid to challenge one another and ask tough questions of themselves and others in the community. They are not a perfect collection of lawmakers, but for low-paid public servants who hold down full-time jobs elsewhere and who five years ago faced daunting challenges in a swiftly declining community, they are getting the job done.
The success and inspiration of our leadership has spilled over into the community. In April, approximately 70 community volunteers logged close to 2,000 hours to improve the landscaping in the town square, to renovate some structures and to clean up some blighted areas.
Last month, numerous volunteers completed a similar feat – painting and repairing the facades of empty downtown storefronts. Volunteers also contributed to fundraising for a new library, planned events aimed at enlarging community spirit, and outlined plans for the continued economic development of our town.
There are likely to be a few people who remain skeptical about the direction of Glade Spring, the efforts of its citizens and the function of its government. These skeptics serve an important purpose, but only if they express their concerns responsibly and without heightening tensions in a way that paralyzes cooperation and action.
The vast majority of Glade Spring residents – most of whom are very in tune with the pros and cons of their town leaders – are feeling very optimistic about what is happening in their community. And they know those feelings proceed in no small way from the hard work, fairness and honesty of their leadership.

Dirk Moore
Glade Spring, Va.