Several years ago, after the contentious restructuring of the Planning and Zoning Commission by the Hernando County Board of Commissioners, I ran into a very prominent local attorney in Publix one evening. While chatting in the produce department, this very southern gentleman said something to me that changed my entire outlook on our community. He said that the days of civility have gone by the wayside and that somehow elected officials and government workers had forgotten they are, in an essence, civil servants with their primary purpose to serve the people in a civil, courteous manner. Our county has come a long way since then, with most of us assuming a more mature, polite manner of communication, but there is always room for improvement for everyone and not just those associated with our local government. Speaking as a community in general, it should be everyone's common goal to be gracious and respectful of others, even in the heat of a debate, discussion or dispute. The reason this subject has been broached today is a suggestion made by our county administrator, Gary Adams, for a proposed Civility Code for our county at the county commission meeting today. Mr. Adams proposal was met with silence from all the commissioners, with the exception of Mrs. Robinson, who referred to a prior county administrator. Maybe this suggestion is worth exploring, in light of the apparent air of negativity being expressed countywide. It would be a breath of fresh air to all of us that call this place, Hernando County home!
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