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Letters to the Editor

County commission saga continues

EDITOR: The county commissioner meeting 4/4/23 was another example of three commissioners overriding common sense, detailed research and what is best for our county. I sincerely hope that down the road we don’t discover that three commissioners have already hand-picked the next administrator. It boggles the mind as to why they would dumb down the requirements for administrator and insist that board members only review applications. Secondly, they voted to get rid of Zoom for those constituents who cannot attend personally. Doing so eliminates an avenue for public comment. ...

Presumption of innocence

EDITOR: Watching the News these days, I cannot help but wonder if my fellow Americans know what POI “Presumption of Innocence” is? The defendant in a criminal trial is assumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty. POI is one of our fundamental legal rights. There isn’t a person alive in this country who wouldn’t demand that right for themselves. So, what makes the Trump situation different? Would you stand for being treated the way he is? Not as former President, but just as an American citizen? These days it seems that people are ‘guilty as accused and that fact ...

Ford River Township marijuana growing

EDITOR: Our township board approved indoor marijuana growing in our township. I attended the Ford River Planning and Zoning Board workshops on March 15th. The recommended distance from the lawyer who drew up the rules was 500 feet from the neighbor’s property line. The grower who was present, said that was too far because he had a neighbor closer than that and if they could lower the distance. After “some” discussion they agreed on a 100 feet. Do you feel 100 feet from your property to an indoor grower, is a little close? If you are trying to sell, will anyone want to buy your ...

Commissioner gathering information

EDITOR: I read today where Steve Viau is seeking information about a millage to help my fellow veterans. The Public Act 214,1899 designated 1/10th of a mill be collected to assist veterans, that would be $.10 per thousand dollars of property value. Back in 1899 that was probably a great sum of money. These days, not so much. Back in 1899, if a veteran or family were found in need the maximum could be drawn was $10 What would $10 buy these days? Google Tells us that “$10 in 1899 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $362.46 today, an increase of $352.46 over 124 years. “ In ...

Escanaba mill employees

EDITOR: For the past month and a half, we as a community have heard about the unsafe conditions of working at the Billerud Paper Mill. The cases of people contracting blastomycosis and the long-term effects this will have on these people’s families are saddening. We understand that there has been a recent study into the matter of what may be causing this issue but as a community, I feel we seek much more transparency from our biggest provider of jobs in Delta County. The lack of transparency can be scary to not only the families of mill workers but everyone in Escanaba. A ...

County board meeting

EDITOR: I just finished watching the Delta County Board of Commissioners meeting of the whole which took place on Tuesday evening, March 28. I am mortified and embarrassed to think that this is what is being preserved and made available on YouTube for people everywhere to watch. All of the meetings have become an exercise in frustration and confusion, but this one may take the cake. There is little to no effort on the part of certain commissioners to compromise. Commissioner Barron seems to think that he is the only one who knows what is necessary in the hiring process for a new ...