Full-time mayor in Palmer is a good idea for all

The city of Palmer took a bold leap into the present last week when the City Council approved a measure granting Mayor John Combs full-time status. It's a long overdue move, one that casts a visionary eye toward the future.

It was Combs, himself, who pushed the measure. To the casual observer, this might appear self-serving. Opponents of the change surely think it is. But their arguments don't stand up to reasonable scrutiny.

As much as we like to think we live in a small, tight community, growth - rapid growth - is the reality of the situation. Gone are the days when simplicity reigned and a mayor could get the job done in a few hours a week.

Residents may decry the present growth and cling to how they think things should be, but that hardly changes the way things really are. With growth come issues that have the potential to profoundly affect the quality of life both in Palmer and around the Valley.

Ignoring those issues does not diminish them. Only by meeting them head on and planning for what is to come can quality of life most effectively be preserved. A mayor whose priority is his duty as an elected official can do much more for the city than one who has time to put on his mayor hat only after working his "regular" job.

Concern about the $45,000 salary that goes with the position is short-sighted. A full-time salary for full-time duties is an investment in the future.

As long as residents are careful about whom they elect - and vigilant after doing so - the money spent on salary should return severalfold to the city. If it doesn't, residents have the power to do something about it when they go to the polls.

Opponents of the change also cite the presence of a full-time city manager on Palmer's payroll. But someone elected by the people is more easily held accountable than someone hired by the council.

For the time being, at least, both positions remain. The only lingering question is whether residents will revise the city charter to eliminate the city manager and confer the powers of that position on the mayor.

For now, expanding Combs' duties and paying him accordingly is the right thing to do. Palmer residents, whatever their individual gripes may be, have been well served by their city government in recent years, and Combs has a lot to do with that. He is a longtime resident with a record of service that shows genuine affection for the community.

City residents should find comfort in this.