|
Back to Council Main Page
MAYOR'S OPEN LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF SCOTTSBORO
Friday, December 7, 2007
Dear Friends,
Over the years it has always been almost easy for me to sit down and pen a speech or to deliver one in front of hundreds of people. That has almost like breathing for me - something that is done with ease and taken for granted. Today as I write this, I am having some difficulty with the composition. We have just celebrated Thanksgiving and my family, like yours, gave thanks for the many things that we are so blessed to have and enjoy - things like watching the changing of the colors of the season and the majesty and the beauty of this time of year as we enjoy watching the Good Lord work his wonders; our families and the love that we share and enjoy; our health and how it is a gift that we so often take for granted.
Some four short weeks ago, while shaving, I noticed a rather small knot on the right side of my neck right below my jaw line. I went to my doctor and he advised that he thought it was an inflammation and gave me antibiotics for ten days and advised that it should go away, but if it didn't to return to his office. After ten days, the knot was still there and had gotten somewhat larger, so I did return to his office. Being the fine and thorough physician that he is, he advised me to go to our Highlands Medical Center to get a CT (cat scan), and he referred me to an ENT doctor in Huntsville. There seemed to be a couple of spots in my throat area that he was concerned with. Tuesday of last week, I went into the hospital and had a tonsillectomy - my tonsils were one of the spots that he was concerned with. He had a biopsy done on what was removed and the test came back as positive for cancer. That's the bad news, but the good news is that it is the treatable type of cancer of the neck and head that has an 80 to 90 percent success rate of beating. This past Wednesday, I met with the staff of City Hall and advised them of what I knew at that time and what I was facing. I am blessed and the people of this city are blessed to have talented people in the employ of the City of Scottsboro. My management philosophy has always been - surround yourself with good people, let them do their job, and then give them the credit for what they do - they will make you look good. And indeed they have. All I have to do is to keep on the same page with them, work with them, and watch them deliver. We share ideas and continually come up with ways to better serve the people that we work for - you - the wonderful people of this city. I learned today that it will be a hard fight consisting of many weeks of radiation and chemotherapy and will be Monday through Friday of each week for some seven weeks. The doctors are saying that I will lose some weight - which isn't necessarily a bad thing - I guess I could stand to lose a few pounds. And then incoming with the chemotherapy I will be, shall we say, a little shorter on my hair style. I'll have a clean look - more streamlined. Maybe I can wear a hat for a while. Maybe instead of being called the old gray mayor (mare), I can be called the Cool Mayor. And there won't be any singing gospel music before an audience for me for a while. I just pray that I will be able to continue singing at some time.
One of the first days that I went to the doctor when I came home I laid down on the bed and my four and a half year old granddaughter Alexia came up and said "Poppy, what were you dreaming?" Maybe I had been saying something as I slept, but I do remember that what were in my thoughts was that of how we always hear and think about how that happens to other people in other places, but this time I remember thinking it's my turn and it's not somebody else. I can tell you that as a Christian man that there is nothing that the Good Lord and I can't handle. And He has richly blessed me with having more good friends than I deserve to have and I thank each of you for that. So many people have sent cards, left messages on the phone, approached my wife and daughters and sons in law and said "Tell Dan that he is in our thoughts and prayers." For all of the many kind gestures that you have offered I in my most heartfelt sincere manner say "Thank You so very much."
Rather than let the people of Scottsboro and Jackson County hear half truths and rumors and misinformation, I felt it was better for me to advise you of what the facts are and what I know regarding what I am undergoing at this time.
So now I have a battle to fight, but I can tell you that I have fought worse battles than this and have won. I will beat this one as well. Please know that I will continue to have meetings every few days with departments and staff to remain informed of what we are facing and ensuring that our direction of travel is correct in conducting day to day operations. Like you, I am so very proud of what we have accomplished as a city. We have the reputation of being a growing, thriving, and progressive city. While other municipalities are experiencing a slump in revenues and construction, we are experiencing a boom. To make that growth come about is not automatic, it takes a team effort and our team is world class and it is because of that combined effort that we have the successful reputation that we do. As your mayor on most weeks I work about sixty five hours a week. That certainly is not a complaint. It has been an honor for me to be the mayor of such a wonderful group of people and such a beautiful place to live. I asked for this job as your mayor and I sincerely thank you for giving it to me. I might have to cut back to a normal forty hour work week for a while until this is over. Just know that I am leaning on the fine staff of our city to carry out their duties in the same manner as they have in the past with careful coordination of efforts, close communications, and management input to take care of the duties of the city. I will have a hand in those duties and those duties will be carried out. Please advise me as you have in the past to what your concerns are and we will take care of them together. My phone numbers at City Hall are 574-3100 Ext 241 or 574-4510, at home at 574-2031, and my email is mayor@scottsboro.org.
I ask for your support, your input, your thoughts and prayers as I progress through this process. With the help of family and friends and the Good Lord - The Master Physician, I will win this battle. I sincerely appreciate your continued support. God bless each of you and our great city.
Many Thanks
Mayor Dan
Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord, to those who are called according to His purpose."
|
Copyright©
2005 by the City of Scottsboro, Alabama, 316 South Broad Street, 35768.
All rights reserved. Articles are provided courtesy of The
Daily Sentinel. Maintenance provided by R&D Computer Solutions.
Scottsboro Alabama, city of Scottsboro,
Jackson county Alabama, Scottsboro in Jackson county Alabama, the Scottsboro
boys, mayor Melton Potter, Unclaimed Baggage, Scottsboro city schools, Goose Pond
Colony, fishing in Scottsboro, Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, Scottsboro’s
first Monday, Scottsboro Alabama’s first Monday, Scottsboro high school,
Scottsboro city services, Scottsboro Alabama parks and recreation, tourism in
Scottsboro, Russell cave in Scottsboro Alabama, the official website for Scottsboro
Alabama, weather for Scottsboro Alabama, things to do in Scottsboro Alabama,
contact Scottsboro Alabama, hotels in Scottsboro Alabama, Scottsboro city government,
Jackson county hospital in Scottsboro Alabama |
