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Letters to the Editor

City council and old jail site

EDITOR: I may be looking for a new office for my taxi company. So I have been scouting the area to see what is available. Then it dawned on me that I could probably move into the old jail. It should be available for a couple of years, I would guess. I think it might take that long to get the city council's fingers and the attorney's fingers out of the mix. On the one hand, you have several entities ready to plop down big bucks to a first-class development, and we just can't seem to let go. Some years ago, Basic Marine purchased a really big section on waterfront property for a ...

Expanding burial benefits for terminally-ill veterans

EDITOR: In June, a Veterans Service Officer from Dickinson County reached out to my office to share the heartbreaking story of a Kingsford veteran named Gerald – “Jerry” – Elliott. Jerry served our country honorably in the U.S. Army, where he rose to the rank of corporal. Within his local community, he volunteered at the local VA hospital and served as a post commander at American Legion Post 363. Jerry’s patriotism and service is unquestionable. But after passing away in 2019 – Jerry and his family were denied burial benefits by the Veterans Administration (VA) simply ...

Candidate endorsement

EDITOR: I would like to voice my support for Kelli Van Ginhoven for Delta County’s 4th District County Commissioner race. I know Kelli to be dedicated to her community, and someone who always shows up when called. The time she has to give has always seems limitless: from her attendance to committee meetings, volunteering for causes she supports, and always being present in our community. I believe having Kelli on our county commission board will provide residents with a commissioner who looks for new ideas, businesses, and ways to communicate with both County Department heads and ...

Ethics

EDITOR: Ethics Video: produced by Commissioner David Moyle(R) October 4, 2020. Ethics: “Ethics can be tested all the time when you’ve had people offer you things. I know…I won’t even take a case of pop as a commissioner. Um… you know there are two kinds of people that hold a job like this. There are those who believe that the position offers them power… and that they are ingratiated some level of status and power. And there are people like you that believe that is a position of servitude and that you help people solve their problems… Um…A very emotional issue ...

Pay raise — maybe not

EDITOR: I read in the paper today, “Social Security payments set for big increase.” Oh boy. This is called a ‘Cost of Living Increase’ or “COLA”. It’s the annual adjustment to Social Security and other government paid individuals, like me, a retired veteran on a fixed income. It sure will come in handy to get a raise. But wait. All may not seem as rosey as it sounds. First of all, agencies like Medicare are poised to raise their copays pretty much the same percentage as the planned increase to Social Security. Copays for drug programs and life insurance are also ...

Conflict of interest

EDITOR: The definition of conflict of interest is a situation in which a person is in a position to derive personal benefit from actions or decisions made in their official capacity. County Commissioner Dave Moyle first brought forward a motion to repeal county zoning on March 1, 2022. This first motion was met with community frustration because ending zoning was never discussed with the major stakeholders before it was brought to the board and voted on. In addition, the process was flawed from the beginning because zoning is in place by ordinance and the only way to repeal an ...