Finally I have found the time to sit down and try to write this column. I have put off the Missourian for several weeks and feel bad about doing so, but work, family and city business have not left me with much free time.

* The Kiwanis SCIPP Day Camp was successful this year with 15 children ages 7 to 13 attending. They had a blast. Hopefully more children will sign up next year.

* The Women's Club is planning its annual yard sale for Labor Day weekend (Sept. 2 and 3). Advertising is available in the map booklet. Contact city hall for more information, 573-264-2157.

* The Scott City Area Chamber of Commerce is going strong and entering a new year. Renewals are now due. Hopefully all businesses in the Scott City area will renew or join if they were not members last year.

* The Scott City Council was able to approve the 2011-2012 budget. It was done in the black, which will allow over $100,000 to be dedicated to our reserve funds, which are doing well and growing each year. Most of the employees received a 1.5 percent raise and will be eligible for up to another 1.5 percent in January if our health insurance renewal comes in reasonable. Our revenue has stayed fairly steady over the last three years.

It seems to me that a balanced budget and a controlled debt limit are achievable at any level of government. My 4-year-old grandson recently blurted out a quote he had heard, "With great power comes great responsibility" -- which I later learned was from the Spider-Man movie. I asked him who had said that and he told me Peter Parker, Spider-Man. After getting over the fact he even said the mouthful, I got to thinking how true the statement is.

As mayor of Scott City I don't feel I have great power, but I do take my responsibility to the citizens of Scott City and the local areas very seriously. I wish that all of our state and federal elected officials could take note of my grandson's comment and truly represent the constituents who elected them and respect the power that accompanies their position.

Whether it involves balancing a budget, making sure our 911 service has funding, making sure health care is available, reducing the debt, limiting access to meth ingredients, keeping funding intact to keep our highways safe, bringing our soldiers home while still keeping America safe, education, Social Security, etc. Wow, how overwhelming. The list could go on and on.

Many politicians run on the Common Sense Ticket and forget that after being elected. They must melt their party affiliations into one and call themselves Americans. Join together and get a grip on our immediate problems before it is too late to recover.

I do have faith that they will pass legislation that will correct our problems and put us back on course. My grandson is counting on all of you.

To those of you who participate in your local organizations or local government, I applaud you.

Tim Porch is the mayor of Scott City.