Down on the corner

We moved into our house in 1999, and since it was a new development, the builder was obliged to include a stormwater management facility at the lowest point of the land. Most people refer to this colloquially as the "sediment pond," and it does work, because when we have those midsummer earschplitten loudenboomers, as the Germans call a thunderstorm, the rain rolls right through our back yards and into this area, where it forms a temporary swimming pool for squirrels, raccoons, and the occasional bandicoot.

I don't there are any bandicoots here, they being native to Australia and New Guinea, but it's just a word I like to say. Any time the talk turns to matters financial, I will pipe up with "fiduciary" as often as possible, and I think you know why.

But, being part of nature, the little lot down on the corner is not immune to growth, and without regular visits from the maintenance crew (the land is deeded to the county) it tends to become overgrown. Let's just say I wish the local corn crops grew as reliably as the ailanthus trees down in the ditch grow, but they don't.

Hubert H. Humphrey, one-time presidential candidate, was often cited as the source of the quotation "Politics is the art of the possible," but in fact, the originator of the statement was the German Prince Otto von Bismarck, who said, in full, "Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable...the art of the next best," before becoming the inventor of the Bismarck donut.

In other words, everyone would like a fire station around the corner, a police car down the street when needed, the soccer field lined and manicured perfectly, the schools open and efficient, the restaurants and saloons inspected, and the million and one other things that government handles done well and without prompting. But there are far more stormwater management facilities in this county than could be handled by a dozen more crews than the county has, and without raising taxes too high, the best way is to do the attainable and shoot for the best possible.

The neighbor whose property adjoins the pond does a lot to help out, cutting the grass around the sidewalk, but when it grows wild, the pond area takes on a great resemblance to the dark forest undergrowth last seen in Danum Valley,  Borneo, and that's why we can call on our nonpareil County Councilman, the amazingly energetic civic-minded David Marks, and he makes the possible happen!

Our thanks to Mr Marks, the only Republican I have ever voted for, for his unstinting efforts to keep our town so nice!