I was sitting in a city council chamber meeting room this evening when the thought occurred to me … that community journalism is where it’s at.

Sachse, Texas, is a nice city that straddles the Collin and Dallas County line. My bosses for whom I work part time have asked me to cover Sachse City Council for the time being. I said “sure,” so there I was taking notes on a budget workshop that was taking place. Council members are preparing the budget to run the city for the next fiscal year. It was a humdrum meeting.

But it was damn important and I was filled with a sense of honor that I was being allowed to report to the residents of this quiet city what their elected officials are doing to decide how to spend the money that comes from the pockets of the city residents.

Get this, too. The Sachse City Council doesn’t get paid a dime for conducting these meetings. The only pay they receive is to be reimbursed for expenses incurred while doing city business. Talk about a labor love!

And I get to report on these fine folks. I am privileged to engage in community journalism at its finest point.

With all the nonsense being kicked around about journalism, whether it’s fake, I am proud to report that the journalism I get to practice from time to time remains alive and well in the communities where I practice it. I do the same kind of community reporting in Princeton (where I live) and in Farmersville just east of my house along US 380.

It was just a brief revelation this evening. It’ll stick with me for as long as I can continue to string sentences together. I’ve said all along that I learn about the communities I cover. I am getting to know Sachse and whatever motivates its public policy. Best news? I get to report on it for the folks who pay for it!