Maybe "entertaining" would be a better descriptive word, but the act could have been shorter. It lasted around two-hours.

The explanations I overheard, in response to the committee's questions surrounding how and why these properties were in such poor and unfit conditions and what the owners planned to do about it, made me as a taxpaying citizen want to go 'junior high' in the back row where I sat and scream OMG!

Believe it or not folks, but in this meeting, I learned that the January 2009 Ice Storm not only had the capabilities to shut us down and send us scrambling to recover in the days that followed, but it also had the supernatural capability to go back in time, and wreak havoc also upon at least 10-20 properties, and vividly give the false appearance that the damages were at least five to ten years in downward spiral.

I've got an idea; let's summons Mother Nature. Like Ricky told Lucy... "You got some 'splainin' to do!"

***

On the subject of properties... What is the 911 on the rental property in this town? (Yes, I said 911. It seems like an emergency to me.)

I own my own home. It is our starter home and we're really proud of our little white cottage. Somewhat because, well, it's the first place we've really been able to invest ourselves into, in a monetary sense and emotional way, but mostly because we no longer have to be faced with looking for a decent place to rent.

When we were renters, we got lucky. Our landlords and their properties were above standard expectations. However, I know many people, good people, that have not been so lucky.

I realize that it can go both ways. There are terrible renters who have no respect for property, whether it is their own belongings or someone else's things. I also get the fact that people actually skip out on the rent, and repeatedly offer excuses for this injustice.

But at the same time, I would like to ask our readers if they have ever been into some of these so-called rental properties? Some owners should be ashamed to offer such slums and expect anything for them aside from a red tag. But they are. And they are netting upwards of $500 per month even.

What is wrong with that picture? To me it is like a Jackson Pollack or those 'forward this to 10 people or you will die' texts, "I just don't get it."

Where is the bar set? I know we're making strides to restore our neighborhoods, and I appreciate that, and even find it motivational to start looking closer to home in trying to do my part. But I also think that officials need to start holding some of these slumlord's feet to the fire more consistently.

Provide options and protection also for those who are not able or ready to invest in buying a property, but would still like a nice residence and neighborhood to live.

What do you think?