This week, I attended an interesting Midwest City council meeting.

I listened to councilmembers talk and entertain public discussion for 30 minutes or more (I lost track) about a development.

During the comments, an attorney addressed councilmembers on behalf of his client in charge of the development. He pointed out that opposing homeowners were originally against street improvements, but had since changed their stance on the issue.

I’m in no way implying the residents against the development were in the wrong. It’s just that if they’re going to go up against something, they need to stay consistent because it benefits their argument more.

They also need to realize sometimes they are fighting a losing battle.

Living in a quiet neighborhood is everyone’s dream and people get pretty testy when that dream is threatened. But just like Glenn Goldschlager, one of Midwest City’s most active citizens said after the meeting, if you want to have a say-so for all of the land around you, buy it up, so you can do as you wish. Otherwise, there’s only so much you can do in the fight against growth.

I’m going to stray off to a different topic now and give kudos to an Oklahoma County Commissioner and her crew for cleaning up an area on SE 15th Street in Midwest City.

Although I had noticed it, Mr. Goldschlager pointed out the big clean-up. He asked me if EastWord could let readers know that Midwest City was not responsible, but instead the county.

It took me several emails and phone calls to find out exactly who within Oklahoma County was responsible. Dist. 1 Commissioner Willa Johnson and her crews took the honor.

Dist. 1 Superintendent Brian Jasper told me that the project included the removal of heavy brush on 15 to 20 acres on the south side of SE 15th Street between Douglas and Midwest Boulevards.

Jasper commented that the area was a fire hazard. District 1 crew also has plans for a similar project in the Luther area.

Thanks for your hard work on this District 1 and keep it up!

Finally, I hope residents in the Original Square Mile embrace Midwest City firefighters as they canvas this neighborhood this weekend. Fire Chief Jarrett Metheny is excited to hit the streets and talk to residents about fire safety and to install new smoke alarms for anyone that needs them.

Another round of kudos goes out to everyone involved in this project.

We all know you can never go wrong with fire safety.