Drumm deserves credit

Last month on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, I was driving around High Springs and noticed Jim Drumm mowing the lawn.  Not surprising, right?  Perhaps, but the lawn he was mowing was not his own.  I stopped and asked, humorously, if he was trying to earn some extra money.  No, Jim said, this property is in foreclosure and the tall grass made the other properties look bad.  So, he spent his Labor Day weekend Sunday afternoon, which he could have been spending with his family, mowing someone else’s lawn so that the neighborhood looked better.

I agree that is not (automatically) a reason to keep a city manager, but Jim Drumm’s actions do express a love and dedication to High Springs that is unparalleled.  So let’s talk about the positive impact Jim Drumm has had on the City of High Springs: 

1. As City Manager, Mr. Drumm upgraded the City’s technology, replacing an antiquated system with new software and hardware, which led to more accurate financial record keeping. 
2. High Springs has enjoyed exemplary independent audits for the past several years and, for the past two, has maintained perfect independent audits. 
3. Mr. Drumm has always been fiscally responsible.  Nothing has been taken from reserves in the general fund and funds have actually been added.  Under his management, the City has never spent the entire City budget to $-0- and rarely has he spent reserve funds unless it was to replace equipment.
4. Mr. Drumm managed Phases One, Two and Three of the Sewer System – a system that was voted in and brought to High Springs by the City Commissioners.
5. He has done a great deal to professionalize City staff including sending existing personnel to training.  New appointments have had a higher level of experience and education.
6. Mr. Drumm’s staffing decisions have led to a professional fire department.
7. He worked with planning consultants to conduct community visioning meetings and include the feedback for a more workable comprehensive plan.
8. Mr. Drumm worked with the City Commission to create citizen advisory boards to allow more residents ownership and involvement in City government.  These boards included The Mayor’s Youth Council, The Parks and Recreation Board, The Housing Needs and Improvement Committee and The Tree Board. 
9. He worked with State and Federal officials to gain grant funds for several City projects, including the old High Springs Elementary School, the downtown parking project, new homes for low income residents living in sub-standard housing and the construction of the sewer system.  The School project demonstrated Mr. Drumm’s interest in preserving the history of High Springs.
10. He organized the recent update of the Civic Center bathrooms using specially designated recreation funding from the Wild Spaces grant money.
11. In order to encourage more building in High Springs without the delays associated with Alachua County bureaucracy, Mr. Drumm hired a Building Official in 2006.
12. On his own time, he has served on the Board of The Chamber of Commerce for many years, thereby demonstrating his interest in making High Springs a welcoming place for visitors and businesses. 
13. Demonstrating his knowledge and understanding of revenue sources and the City’s needs, Mr. Drumm has prepared budgets from 2004 through 2010 that mapped out the goals of the City Commissioners at the time. 

City Manager Drumm is a consummate professional who cares very deeply about the citizens, the history and the needs of High Springs.  Let’s not forget that. 

Lucie Regensdorf

High Springs, Fla.