Jordan seeks to change council culture, stay rural

DALTON GARDENS — Scott Jordan said he is running for a seat on the Dalton Gardens city council to help change the culture of the governing body.

Jordan, a native of Dalton Gardens whose parents owned a ranch at the foot of Canfield Mountain, works as an electrical contractor. He told The Press he has run for a council seat twice, and lost by two votes and three votes in the elections.

"The reason people move to Dalton is because it's a rural community," Jordan said. "That's where I want to keep Dalton Gardens at."

One of the main things Jordan said he wants to do if he's elected is look at the existing city ordinances. There's a necessity for some ordinances, Jordan said, but having so many in a rural community like Dalton Gardens might not be the best answer to issues like deer and traffic.

"They have an ordinance out now that you can't put a bird feeder out if the deer can get to it," he said as an example. "Well the average deer can stand up between 7 and 9 feet tall on its hind legs. OK so let's let an 88-year-old grandma get on a ladder and try to put a bird feeder that high — she falls off and breaks her hip, but by golly, they're following the city rules."

Jordan added that he doesn't see the deer population in the city as a problem, but instead looks at it as a situation. Although he doesn't have an answer for the situation, Jordan said he knows that increasing enforcement of ordinances isn't a solution.

"Do you really want neighbors tattling on neighbors?" Jordan asked. "That's ridiculous. I want to bring people together, not do that. We're not in high school."

Another issue often discussed in the community is traffic, and Jordan said he has no problem stepping up enforcement of traffic laws to curtail speeding.

"It's a walking, talking, bicycling neighborhood," he said. "But I don't think we should start implementing sidewalks and street lighting, because it's a rural community."

Jordan said he sees a severe difference in what the current council says it will do, and the actions it takes. They encourage residents to come to meetings and give their opinions on issues, he said, but there isn't any indication that they're listening.

"I want to help people live a good life in Dalton," Jordan said. "But I don't want to rule their lives. I have no intention of doing that."