| Jan 13, 2005


Letters January 20, 2005

Letters January 20, 2005

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We appreciate your hard work

We live in interesting times. Since the early 90s downsizing has been the ultimate buzzword in North American Society. Everything from hospitals to municipalities has needed to live with the fact of downsizing.

It has been approximately 10 years since I experienced the full effects of downsizing. Though I served in a public capacity for 16 years, I feel fortunate because life did not end with the process of downsizing but moved into a different direction for my family and me. Now 10 years later, those I once worked with are living with the frustration of limited resources and the frustration of a public that wants to see things return to the way they once were. The sad truth is that our society will undoubtedly have to learn to live with the frustrations and make the best of the hand that we have been dealt.

My thoughts go back to those who remain in the public sector, those who plow our roads, those who remove our garbage, and those who try their best to govern with limited resources and bigger needs. We, the public, sometimes fail to see or understand the frustration of the public service workers who do their best in spite of limited resources. Try to put yourself in their shoes to get an understanding of the frustrations they face every day. Then, the next time you see a public servant doing the best they can, take the opportunity to thank them for a job well done. They deserve our thanks for all that they do.

For those who plow our roads, thank you for doing your best even when your family would like to see you more. You have worked around the clock because there are not enough drivers to give you a rest. To the volunteer fire fighters, thank you for being a help in times of crisis; you put your lives on the line for us and we want to say thank you. For the hospital support staff, the doctors and the nurses, we thank you for working under difficult situations day after day. For your smiling face that greets us when we are sick, thank you. To those who serve on our local government, we want to offer our thanks for all the hard work that you do. For serving the public even when the public fails to see that you are needed and that you help make our society a place where we can live our lives with our basic needs met. Thank You.

Woes_innkeepers_wife

I am proud to live in a country that enjoys the many freedoms that our public service offers. I am thankful for their hard work and dedication and I want to offer my thanks. So, keep up the good work, you are appreciated!

- Rev. Ed BeattieWhy the Mayor bashing?

I address this letter to all who feel compelled to call the Mayor when something in your little corner of the world doesn't suit your expectations. It was prompted by the recent reports and letters from Leeanni Renaud and Kim Leonard.

We the taxpayers elected the Mayor to represent us mainly at the County Level in order to address issues such as police, ambulance & Fairmount Home that involve our tax dollars and the surrounding municipalities. He acts as chairperson at council and only votes on issues that have a tied vote. He is not a salaried CEO and should not be expected to be at your beck and call 24/7.

The councilors on the other hand were elected by Ward and seem in some instances to only be concerned for that wards problems, and less receptive to dealing with problems of the township as a whole.

Roads are at the mercy of the weather, which has produced more than its share of ice this year. The crews must be commended for the great job they have done considering what we give them to work with out of our roads budget. Got a complaint? Call your councilor and have him deal directly with the road foreman or public works manager. They are paid employees. Don't like the answers or the results of your complaint? Elect someone else, or better still jump in the fire and run for council.

Regarding the letter from L. Renaud that did some Mayor bashing, I am surprised. I would have thought Councilor Murray could look after himself in the council forum without the help of his neighbor's pen. Her issue with the roads should have been directed to him personally.

Kim Leonard, according to the published report in the Frontenac News, not only engaged in Mayor bashing but questioned the integrity of the whole council. Her quest for a provincial audit should be backed up by fact not assumptions and maybe she should post a bond to ensure it is not a witch hunt. As a former member of Hinchinbrooke Township council she should understand both the dump and road situations well.

Both of these people and others chose to go directly to the mayor on issues. In November 2000 the majority of the voters endorsed electing a council at large. It would seem that it is time for such a move and a fundamental change to our municipal government. Also a full time Mayor would be the CEO in the office 8 hours a day 5 days a week to be contacted instead of calling him at home. Downsizing council could offset the cost and streamline things. Taxes will always go up and if you want more youd better be prepared to step up to the plate and pay more.

It is time to make the change and get rid of the petty bickering between the old township mentality (wards) and build a better community.

For the record, in August the Mayor and I disagreed on an issue over which he had complete control and I will deal with that at the ballot box in 2006 not in the paper.

Bob PollardSeeking forgiveness

Jesus tells us in the Bible: If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right (reconcile). Then and only then, come back and work things out with God. Or say youre out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Dont lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. (Matthew 5: 24-25). This is a good and sound teaching, for true worship requires a pure heart.

But what happens when a person knows someone has a problem with them, but they do not know who it is, what they have done or why?

Let me explain. While away for Christmas someone deliberately removed our mailbox from the post that contains both our neighbours mailboxes as well. Their mailboxes were intact--but our neighbour discovered ours lying in the ditch. When we arrived home we were told that there were footprints all around our mailbox only. Another neighbour had put our mailbox in our garage for safekeeping, but he couldnt understand why anyone would deliberately do something like that. My husband, Steve, installed the mailbox back in its place. No harm done. We forgot all about it.

Then on the evening of January 7, someone drove up and this time used a heavy object to put a hole through the roof of our mailbox. (Now let me explain--our mailbox is nothing special; just one built to look like our home, a plywood construction painted with tremclad.) The blow that hit our mailbox was strong enough to bend the T bar on the post that holds all three mailboxes, causing all of them to lean forward. Our neighbours boxes were intact--but ours has been deliberately destroyed. By whom, we do not know. Or why.

So as you can see, it is obvious that we have offended someone enough for them to take it out on our mailbox. This has saddened us and we truly want to know who they are and why, so we can be reconciled to them. So to whoever is angry at us, please call or write us. Please let us know what we have done so we can discuss it and get to the bottom of it.

No matter what has been done to us, we have already extended forgiveness to whoever has taken this action against our family. We are praying for you every blessing God can bestow upon you and your family.

In Christian Love,

Steve, Sonja, Morgan & Mitchell Alcock

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