Commissioners' Corner: Goals for 2024

 District Commissioners would like to wish everyone a belated Happy New Year!

January is traditionally a month where people examine their lives and consider changes and improvements they'd like to make.

With that in mind, we posed a simple question to each commissioner: What are your goals for 2024?

Some provided answers about personal goals. Others offered goals that pertain to their role as Commissioner. And some responded with answers that contained both. Their answers are below.

SUZI VOGELGESANG 
We all think about resolving to lose weight, get fit, and eat healthier on or about January 1 each year,  but do we do anything to adjust our mental health and family life?

This year I have started to delegate to others in order to have time to do more reading and spend time with family. It's about letting others step up to the plate and do some of the things that I felt could only be accomplished on my own. Stay tuned, because I'm sure that by the end of 2024 I will have taken the plunge into other community service projects that are totally in need of volunteers.

ERIN WRIGHT (Chair)
My goals are to continue serving my community and keep getting things accomplished for our residents. I look forward to being Chair again, leading the board in a good direction, and trying to communicate better with the City Council. Specifically I'm looking forward to moving ahead on the North Park east side with the trails and the Butters Group, and moving forward on the pickleball facility at Patch Reef.

CRAIG EHRNST (Treasurer)
When it comes to my goals within the District, I have three main ones:

• Enhance Community Engagement – Seek to increase community participation in our local parks and beach activities. I believe the District’s 50th anniversary will be an opportunity foster greater awareness and education - possibly with a community clean-up day to foster a sense of ownership and pride among residents.
• Promote Sustainability and Environmental Conservation – We need to set more goals to implement sustainable practices in beach and park management. By increasing recycling and bringing greater awareness to our NO BALLOON practices at community properties, we can help our natural environment become safer from man-made trash. 
• Improve Accessibility and Inclusivity – Work toward making parks and beaches more accessible and inclusive for all, including individuals with disabilities. The opportunities will occur with the opening of Jacob’s Outlook at Gumbo Limbo, and the new barrier free playground at Patch Reef Park.    

STEVE ENGEL
As a District commissioner, my goal is to complete the renovation of the Pirate’s Cove playground within Patch Reef Park to make it ADA compliant and give EVERY kid a place to have fun.

In my personal life my goal is to see more of my family. 

Note; Commissioner Bob Rollins was travelling and couldn't respond for this story.