Safety, health and well-being encompassed the new business brought before the mock session of the Lady Lake Commission conducted by The Villages Charter Middle School Civics Class. Students, acting as mayor and commissioners, listened and voted on proposals offered up from student groups.
The proposals for a town recreation center and a community mentoring program passed unanimously. Proposal for a scenic bike trail passed with one no vote and the proposal for crosswalk flags was tabled for further investigation.
Each student worked with their counterpart.
The morning mayor Erica Wyatt ran a good meeting assisted by Mayor Jim Richards. She ended the morning with a decisive bang of the gavel. Wyatt said she could see herself being a mayor one day.
“I don’t want to be the governor that seems like too much power and stress. Plus I would like to see the effect on people closest to me. Like the presidents really can’t touch those around them,” she said.
Mayor Richards was very impressed with the questions the students asked as was Commissioner Ruth Kussard.
“I am astounded by the mentality of these children and the questions they ask. I hope today really inspires their interest in politics,” said Kussard.
In order to participate in the program the students, all seventh graders, wrote an essay outlining a project that would impact or improve Lady Lake. Civics teachers Robert Trifu and Christina Ling selected the best essays and those students participated.
Student Zach Hussein was the lone “No” vote on the scenic bicycle path. He voted no because even though the proposal asked for a grant the maintenance fell to local businesses and even a required one or two per cent could negatively impact a small business said this seventh grader who took time out of his lunch break and talking with other students to ask Kussard how the ward system worked which led to a conversation about property taxes.
Student Bryce Sutton led the group that proposed a community mentoring program. As described by Sutton, retirees could use their retirement to mentor students in everything from knitting to woodworking. Sutton was barraged during the open questions and more than held his own. He received kudos from fellow students and the teachers when his portion was over.
The meeting ended with students asking a lot of questions about how this works in real life. One student asked if any of their proposals could ever really happen.
“Yes,” said Richards. “Funny enough we are currently looking into a recreation center and bike trails if we can get the interest.”
The mock session with the commissioners of Lady Lake was sponsored by the Auxiliary of American Legion Post 347. This is the second year of the program.
