Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

All work on the sewer collection contract was certified as 100% complete by July 1, 2005. Over $170,000 of this contract was for street repairs.

About all I could see completed was the repair of the cuts in old highway 6, along with some street work by the city.

I talked to the mayor about why the $170,000 was approved for payment by the board when it did not appear the street repairs were completed. He said that, except for the work on old highway 6, the city has subcontracted to do the repairs for about $40,000.

I can’t see why the city board would agree to this, as it doesn’t seem like a very good deal to get $40,000 and the old highway fixed for the $170,000 paid for street repairs.

I must be missing something here, so maybe the mayor or board members would put an article in the paper explaining the details of the deal that would justify its approval by the board of aldermen. Thank you.

Gene Schweizer

Dear Editor:

Can this peace officer who is the only peace officer in Gilman City turn the town around, who was hired as Chief of Police because of his 15 to 17 years of experience, training and knowledge of the law?

Ten to 15% of this city do not want a police officer employed in the city of Gilman. Why? They stated at a city council meeting that they don’t need law enforcement, that there is no need for a peace officer! Why? The ones who did speak up at the council meeting were in fact the ones (themselves, relatives or friends) who received a ticket for disobeying the law. Laws they don’t believe should apply to them.

After researching the town’s history, we have determined this city is no different than any other. You have your lawless citizens here, just like anywhere else. In the past there has been vandalism, murders, killings, public disturbances, drugs, etc., just like any other city or town. We as the city should want law enforcement. Don’t we want to better our town. Don’t we want tourists to visit our town.

Why don’t some of the towns people want law enforcement? What do they have to hide? Are they just used to not having law enforcement?

There are a lot of elderly people and children in the town. Is there no one thinking of them when they’re racing down the street or they’re racing four wheelers? Are they not thinking of their small children when the (parent or adult) put their child (seven or eight-year-olds) on a pocket rocket to run up and down the street? Everybody knows that their response factor is not good, otherwise it would be legal for a young child to gt their driver’s license…would it not?

Why are the parents or guardians allowing their children in the bar? Isn’t this endangering the child or children?

Why are the parents allowing their children to ride their pocket rockets on the streets of Gilman City? Is this considered child endangerment? Or children riding in the back of ‘gator’s. It’s illegal for them to ride in the back of a pickup. Why not ‘gators? Why are the children allowed in the town bar. Isn’t this considered child neglect or child endangerment? To have a bunch of adults intoxicated and children (ages infant to 17 years of age) in and out of the bar. What if there was a fight? What if the parent was so impaired to the point where their driving caused them to get in an accident? Who would be at fault? The parent, the bartender, the juvenile officer, the police, who? Why are the juvenile officers not involved in any of these situations?

There is a council meeting Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. in Gilman City, City Hall. Please come and state your concerns, as we are trying to better our town and keep our children and elderly safe.

Is Gilman City the last stronghold for the outlaws?

Brenda Figg, Gilman City

Dear Editor:

I retired from the North Kansas City Fire Department after 36 years of service as a paramedic. On June 26, 2005, I called Daviess County 9-1-1 and requested medical assistance for chest pain.

In a very few minutes Gallatin’s Community Ambulance District unit arrived, staffed by paramedic Carrie McAfee and E.M.T. Wendell Gunzenhauser.

Just want to say “thank you” to these very professional and dedicated people.

Marvin Landes, Paramedic DMO33, retired

Dear Editor:

Regarding Randi Bjornstad’s article about minimum wage. For me, all discussion about minimum wage finally comes back to a simple question. If two citizens of a free country reach an agreement whereby one will do work for the other, why is it the business of the government what the freely agreed upon wage rate will be?

The answer is that it is not, and there is no justification whatsoever for a government decreed minimum wage. Fair wages will be set by the market. The current average wage for hourly workers in the US is slightly over $16 per hour according to the Department of Labor.

Some will no doubt complain that workers need a certain amount of money to live. I’m sure they do, and there are ways for them to get it, such as being worth that amount to somebody. Furthermore, why doesn’t Randi suggest a maximum wage to protect the small business person who must hire outside labor. If the government is going to assume responsibility for a worker getting a living wage, shouldn’t it also assume responsibility for guaranteeing a business operator a living profit?

I suggest that Randi start a business and hire untrained entry level workers at a living wage, say $15 per hour or so. Lots of workers will be available, the business will no doubt prosper and ultimately employ hundreds of thousands of people. The problem of poverty will be solved for all time and Randi will replace Bill Gates as the wealthiest American.

Finally a couple of disclaimers. I currently have no employees, so have no axe to grind. I have personally worked for 75 cents per hour, was glad to have that job at that time, and was paid about what I was worth.

Dale Frazier, Weatherby