Letters to the editor - Jan. 23, 2013
Why does it seem that every taxing body in this County needs a ‘keeper’? At a time when the very nation is in crisis mode about money, why are there even Preliminary plans for another giant boondoggle here? Do we have to make it a law that every meeting of Any Taxing body here HAS to have a big Sign there saying “Mineral is among the poorest counties in Montana- GET IT? ACT LIKE IT!” Just do your Job Better and forget about these monstrous ‘Pipedreams’ that occasionally ‘come up’ to Tax us All. Doesn’t our School Board have anything better to do than plot to tax me out of my house?
I submit it does. The last School Board meeting I attended had a time to hear about a program to better identify early reading problem students in the Primary school – And the plans they have to ‘fix’ that- AT That age! Super! I started clapping for them- it kinda surprised everyone- but they soon joined in. Then I hear that at least one school here wasn’t making the grades (literally) even with our national dumbed down Testing.
When I hear that final planning is being done on a ‘Multi-Event Center’ with the description of YMCA, I say: What does that have to do with education? On that score, I submit that this school district ALREADY HAS a couple ‘Multi- Event’ Places- A ‘Multi- Purpose room’ (sound familiar?) and two Gymnasiums.
A Multi-Event Center would seem to be a large enclosed place that can be set up for many different events- like a convention center. BUT NO! Our School board already has this whole $7 Million building parceled out into what I perceive as ‘Wish List’ items. Such as: An Indoor pool. What town our size has even One pool- and they want Another! Crazy! A Weight room? Racquetball court, Another Gym, and our Library. Think what That means: They mean locker rooms! And Those will make the Whole Bldg. smell like a YMCA all right- Chlorine & Sweaty socks! And figure on added security, insurance, and constant custodial work needed Forever!
All from surveys done during the Autumn County Fair! Geeps! If people feeling their most relaxed and festive only give Pretty Good results- even without that Last CRUCIAL Question included (as Always): Do you want to pay for this? My Lord… ! Even if I Loved this idea- First, Last, and in the middle: I don’t want to pay for it! But now- It’s all Hurry up… Always the same tactic too.
I don’t Want a School that has facilities for all ages- heck I don’t want the schools’ taxes to be used for much else than EDUCATION! I’ve kinda been hoping that just ONCE this school board would get voted NO; but just the school system’s employees outvote whoever else even votes!
Robert Lake, Superior
I’d like to address a couple recent issues noted in the papers about the Christmas light display at the County Fairgrounds, and the proposal for instituting coupons at the annual fair.
The article, by Ed Moreth in the January 10th Sanders County Ledger, seems to identify a couple reasons the holiday lights might be “doused”. One is that a “few vociferous people; a handful of complainers”, AKA a few concerned citizen taxpayers, asked simple questions: What is the cost of the electric bill and who pays for it?
The answers are that it runs $1,000 - 1,500.00 and it’s the county taxpayers who foot the bill.
If memory serves me, when the Sanders County Fair Foundation was created and the first lights purchased, it was noted in the papers the Foundation was going to pay the bill year after year. I do not know when the billing was discharged to the county taxpayers or who authorized the change.
The second reason Ed put forward is that one gentleman who puts up the lights is 70 (the other nearly so); perhaps they would consider some assistance this year to arrange the display and then it could be taken over by volunteers in future years. Perhaps it is not the “questioning by people that is breaking the camel’s back” but hefting the displays. They admit it would be a sad day for the little children not to get to enjoy the lights, why not seek help?
As to the use of coupons at the Fair, a surprisingly large number of people have brought the issue up to me in casual conversation - and I have had nothing to do with it - but it is something local folks are definitely concerned might happen. People do not want it for two major reasons. One is the inconvenience of use. The second is many feel it is unreasonable the Fair would not redeem all coupons a patron might have left over and this could lead to unscrupulous accounting in the Fair Office.
At the risk of being labeled a Grinch I’d like to know why the public, which seems to have been promised fireworks and lights each Christmas season, and who additionally pay for both, was never consulted about having both sources of enjoyment taken away. It’s appreciated that those who contribute to the Foundation provided the lights but it has been two county employees who’ve utilized their time making this happen for us. It seems we, the taxpayers, should have some input into whether these activities continue as we are vested in the outcome
Perhaps as a way to ameliorate the cost of the lights a two-day craft bazaar could be conducted at the Pavilion during the lighting ceremony weekend; this might bring more people to town to enjoy the lights and help rekindle the spirit of community; a table fee could be dedicated to the electric bill.
Can we look forward to a great Christmas display and fireworks at the fairgrounds this year? I hope so.
Judy Woolley, Plains.