Letters to the Editor

We don’t all get a free lunch

Thank you, Mr. Ramsey, for your letter informing us of the lunches for the Board of Supervisors before each of their monthly meetings, that we taxpayers are being billed for. I have lived in Charlotte County for 77 years and this is the first time I have ever heard of this. Mr. Jones seems to have known about this for quite some time, but has not felt this issue important enough to inform the taxpayers. He has reported many other issues concerning the county but seems to think this is a trivial item. I have at least two Christian friends on the board of supervisors and wonder how they could be part of consuming lunches in the amount of $100.00 per setting, totaling over $1,000.00 over a period of nine months and sending the bill to their family and friends. Mr. Jones has stated it cost us from a dime to a quarter to furnish these lunches. I, as well as dozens of family and friends, do not want to pay a penny towards these lunches much less

a dime or quarter. However, Mr. Jones figures our supervisors are already paid an outstanding amount of wages per month for the time spent in their meetings. I have these figures; all you have to do is request them at the county administration office. So I am asking why the supervisors would ask the taxpayers, their families and friends to furnish them lunches or why are they necessary to accomplish county business? Suppose every board in the county asked for their lunches to be paid for before their meetings!

I am shocked that our county elected individuals could treat their taxpaying citizens this way! I have talked with my supervisor who stated that he was unaware of the free lunches when he was appointed January 16. When he attempted to pay for his lunch he was told it was already paid for. He did not know who aid for it and would surely be willing to eat his lunch at home. We talk about spending in Washington! How about something like this going on in our small-overtaxed county? If the majority of taxpayers knew nothing about this, what other expenditures do we not know about? I guess they, like me, trust our supervisors to watch out for all the expenses being turned in to be paid for by county taxpayers. I have talked to my supervisor. Have you talked to yours? And, Mr. Jones, this issue has nothing to do with the new courthouse.

Ludy Collie

Citizen and overtaxed taxpayer

Board meetings should be recorded in entirety

I attended the Feb. 9th Board of Supervisors meeting. Four people spoke but probably no one will know what they said because citizens’ comments have not been included in the minutes and meetings are held while most people are at work, 1:30 p.m. (unlike the majority of boards in this area). So you have to rely on the newspapers’ coverage.

I found no unbiased, factual coverage.  Just two articles in the Commentary section….the editor’s opinion. Two of the citizens who stood up to speak in their 3-minute time spot are portrayed as vindictive, petty people. I believe these people had things to say which, you the taxpayers, would find of interest.  But how can you know?  There’s no record nor fair reporting.

Please – call your Supervisor.  Ask them to hold meetings at a time you can attend.  Ask that citizens’ comments are made part of the minutes. Go online to the County’s webpage.  Look up the minutes from prior meetings. Believe me, we are all not getting the information we need.  Call the newspapers and demand fair and balanced reporting. We deserve these things.

Kay Morgan Pierantoni

Wylliesburg

Vote! It’s your right

Please remember to vote on Tuesday March 1, 2016, for the person you feel is best qualified to lead our Nation and become our next President. Every election is important. Please exercise your voting privilege and right to take part in the election process.

Remember, when you go to the polls, the number of candidates vying to be the Republican nominee has been reduced to six.  Those asking for your vote to serve as our next President are (in no particular order) Dr. Ben Carson, Governor John Kasich, and Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz.  Each candidate has strong leadership qualities and is well qualified to lead our Nation.

For those who have difficulty in getting to the polls on March 1, you still have time to go to the Registrar’s Office to cast your ballot.  The Registrar’s Office will be open Monday thru Friday during office hours and until 5:00 p.m. Saturday, February 27, 2016.

“If not us, who? If not now, when???”  -Ronald Reagan

Peggy H. Armentrout