We interrupt this commission meeting for some real issues

At tonight's Kissimmee City Commission meeting we will see some elected officials continue to attempt to protect the voters from themselves. Of course, we're talking about the proposed election modifications (we hesitate to say "reforms"). After most of the candidates in the 2006 election said that they supported a city charter review, we have learned that these five items are what they really had in mind. And what the commission heard last week, from those who cared to express an opinion, were that the changes weren't needed, didn't make a difference, or were the opposite of what the city residents wanted.

Unfortunately, sometimes elected bodies spend way too much time on issues of little importance to the community at large, while looking like they are in the midst of a heart-stopping political drama.

What have been the big issues before the commission this year?

• Who will be the vice mayor?
• Can the commissioners have their own offices?
• And now, election modifications.

While we watch government continue to fight the battles of government, we wonder when someone will finally start working on a siren warning system to help protect the residents of Osceola County. After watching the destruction throughout Florida earlier this year, and now the destruction in the mid-west, can we not look at something that is actually important for our residents? Article after article on the storms that just demolished an entire town in Kansas reported that the early warnings and the warning sirens were the leading life saving factor during the disasters. Nothing about reverse 911 systems or other high-tech options, just good old-fashioned warning sirens. Hurricane season is less than a month away.

And what has happened to all of our "planning for the future" efforts? Will 192 receive a new life through new zoning/land use rules? How about the lakefront and the old KUA plant? Is the intermodal transportation center only viable if commuter rail comes to Kissimmee, or is it enough to be the major Lynx/Amtrak/Greyhound hub for the county? How about the parking structure for downtown that everyone wants?

We now return you to our scheduled programming..."Who wants to be the lottery-selected vice mayor candidate?"