(Letter to the Editor - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

After attending a Parkersburg City Council meeting, I was disappointed by the apparent lack of visionary leadership in our city.

After the meeting I was left with the realization that Parkersburg has no one in charge with the ability to innovate, inspire and build for a brighter future.

Town officials seem stuck in a time warp, hoping to return the city to the, “good old days”

Missing were the hint of an original idea or a spark of humor.

By far the best assets for the MOV are its rivers … the very foundation for our city.

Yet, I heard nothing about further developments that embrace these iconic features near their convergence by Point Park.

How about funding a nature/environmental center with a large fresh water aquarium in the Welcome Center stocked with fish such as bass, carp and catfish, along with a display of common hardwood trees? Kids love to count tree rings and feed fish!

An idea not mentioned at the meeting that my practical, wise, frugal, (and beautiful) wife immediately suggested when hearing of our sanitation fee increase with the loss of curbside recycling collections:

“Given the number of vacant lots sprinkled throughout Parkersburg,” why not simply create a series of convenient drop-off locations, perhaps on 7th Street, the McKinley school corner, City Park or near big retail stores with plenty of space for recycling bins that could be easily taken to the recycling center by one driver in a truck?”

And, “to increase the efficiency of recycling, bins could be added to help separate plastic types by having one for clear #1 PET containers plus others to separate various glass colors. Naturally, to help the public, a pickup schedule needs posted along with instructions and samples of proper containers per bin.”

With little imagination, it is possible to streamline recycle collections and save the city thousands of dollars

It is time local politicians share visions and acquire an ability to think, “outside the box.”

Stanley Cole

Parkersburg