Published: July 19, 2009 11:59 pm      

Letters - Monday, July 20, 2009

Town council needs to see big picture

This article is in response to Bill Young, guest columnist. Bill, take the blinders off. There is a big picture here. Let’s address double standards with facts.

Bill is not a resident of Galveston. He is not even a resident of Cass County. He is an employee of the town. Only the town council and town marshal have the ability to enforce ordinances.

Fact: There has been contact and several quotes from the town council. Kind of like WWII, it was in all the papers. There would be more quotes, but some have refused interviews. Perhaps they are afraid of being embarrassed by trying to justify their absurd way of conducting town business. Remember Kenny Cripe? He doesn’t care what anybody’s property looks like since he plans to die there. Great quote, Kenny. Why exactly are you on the town board?

Two of the town employees that report directly to Bill are on the town council. During the day, Bill has a direct impact on their wages plus future employment. Conversely, after hours, the same employees have a direct impact on Bill’s wages plus future employment. Isn’t that a possible conflict? What do you suppose shop discussions are like?

Fact: I have never been informed of any violation by the town council. If there is a problem or question, let me know, no formal notification necessary. In return I expect the town council to address any other property owner who has similar violations. Fair enough, Bill?

In an obvious act of intimidation, without performing any due diligence, the town council attempted to fine me $500 for drilling an “illegal” well for a local charitable organization that I had donated. They instructed the town attorney to notify me of the violation. They were too embarrassed to discuss it after they found out it wasn’t on town property. Ooops.

Fact: Not one of the “concerned citizens” has ever said, “they do not care” if enforcing the ordinances causes a hardship. Just the opposite, as several have volunteered to help anyone clean or remove junk.

Fact: 100 percent of the concerned citizens ARE citizens of the Galveston community. Using Bill’s criteria, he himself should not be concerned with anything in the entire county.

Bill, this is where the big picture comes in; please pay attention: Anyone who resides, owns property, rents property, owns and/or runs a business or is employed by the town, has a legitimate concern with how the town of Galveston is run. It affects everyone. For example, Realtors, banks and mortgage companies. This is not rocket science, Bill. If the price of real estate is low, taxes are lower, commissions lower, less money loaned, less interest paid, more houses/businesses abandoned, fewer people live/work in town, less town revenue, thus less town employees are required. Instead of having two town managers costing $50,000 each, the town would only need one. Get the picture? Who wants to live/invest in a town that has piles and piles and piles and piles and piles and piles (get the idea?) of junk in clear view? This is no exaggeration, and you know it.

Fact: If Cass County Planning Commission is utilized, people wouldn’t have to drive to Logansport to get permits. That is an option of the town council. Check your facts, Bill.

Fact: Linda Cree did not “slam” the town council. Just the opposite. Her article pointed out facts and feelings of concern. If the town council can’t take constructive criticism, then resign.

I do not believe that the majority of the current town council has Galveston in its best interests. Clearly, four of the five are there for self-serving purposes. Their actions and inactions speak for themselves. If anyone doesn’t believe me, come to Galveston for a visit and you be the judge.

Bruce Moss

Galveston property owner



Tribune offers just one side of story

Despite incontrovertible evidence of breaches of the truth, the Kokomo Tribune has not allowed local readers to respond to the outrageous charges levied against the Republican Party by out-of-town guest writers such as Stephen Dick of Anderson.

Here we enter Mr. Dick’s Orwellian world, where truth is a rare commodity and misleading statements are king.

America’s enemies find fertile ground with the news media in their effort to destroy those who have the guts to fight for freedom and the principles of a Christian nation. America will stand or fall on the strength of those principles.

Ondis Brantley

Russiaville