Dear editor:
While gathering signatures recently on our anti-annexation referenda petitions at the Edwards Center, a city employee, Emily Noe, exhibited the heart of a servant that, if replicated by the city board, would make me want to become a part of the city.
A frail, near-90-year-old black lady, a Mrs. Tucker, drove up to pay her water bill. When she got out of her vehicle, I noticed that her body was gnarled and twisted almost horizontal with rheumatoid arthritis, and she could barely shuffle.
As I moved to help her, a passing water department employee, Emily Noe, arrived first and offered to take Mrs. Tucker's payment inside for her. Obviously relieved, Mrs. Tucker agreed, and with great difficulty she managed to seat herself back in her car.
When Emily came back outside, I heard her lovingly explaining to Mrs. Tucker ways in which she could pay her water bill more easily.
Our anti-annexation fight is not with city government employees, most of whom are caring and serving individuals like Emily.
No, our battle is with the city board and its paternalistic, arrogant and uncaring treatment of county residents and its own citizens, including wonderful employees like Emily and the dedicated firemen and policemen, all of whom have now gone eight years without meaningful pay raises or bonuses.
Well, the new, nine-month-employed city manager and city attorney did get $8,000 or $9,000 year-end bonuses, apparently for leading the war against county folks.
While the city has multi-millions to squander our tax dollars bailing out a fat-cat, out-of-state developer and his falling-down hotel, it has no money to provide pay raises or significant bonuses to those like Emily delivering city services?
Nor can it find a mere $45,000 to keep the health department, with its essential care of our community's neediest, open (Director Randy Fale is on record as saying the city will provide zero funding to the health department next year, and what Randy Fale says, this city board does!).
I despair of such government priorities. They make me ashamed, not proud, of our city. We need change and reform! And we need it now!
Maybe our city board could learn from Emily's servant example of caring and compassion and following the Golden Rule?
After all, it's never too late to bring peace to our community.
Thank you, Emily, for restoring hope that your employer had destroyed.
Cliff Jackson
Hot Springs
Editorial on 01/17/2017