Letters to the Editor

The Comet welcomes letters to the editor responding to articles and events in the news. They must include the author's name, address and telephone number. The letter writer's name and city/town will appear in the paper

no exceptions. Letters must be 400 words or less in length. Please send your letters to: editor@carrollcountycomet. com; Letters to the Editor, Comet, P.O. Box 26, Flora, IN 46929 or P.O. Box 179, Delphi, IN 46923; or fax 574-967-3384 or 765-564-2010. By submitting a letter or opinion article, the author grants the Comet the right to publish, distribute, archive or use the work in print, electronic, on-line or other format.

Where was respect?

I am disappointed! With respect to Debbie Lowe's usually fine reporting, I thought that she under-reported the demeanor of the rude, irate, and disrespectful folks who attended the Dec. 17 Carroll County Commissioners' meeting for the purpose of opposing the Liberty Township dairy.

"'Get out! Get out! Get out!' Bill Brown yelled as he pointed at one audience member," she wrote. What she failed to mention was that this citizen was told to leave because he was spewing profanity at the commissioners. Another citizen was told to leave because she, too, was using vulgar language and verbally assaulting both the commissioners and anyone else in the room that did not share her views.

What was also not mentioned in the watered-down account of the tone of that meeting was that the behavior of the majority of the citizens who were present for the purpose of opposing the dairy was abominable.

From the start, these citizens verbally attacked the commissioners, the livestock industry, and the County Economic Development Commission. For every question asked, no answer was allowed to be given. For every remark in defense of the livestock industry, the speaker was talked over, insulted, or shouted down. Several audience members constantly interrupted the speakers (those that did not share their anti-dairy views, that is), spoke loudly amongst themselves, and generally disrupted the proceedings.

What is wrong with these people?! I understand that some citizens are not happy with the proposed dairy. But, nothing excuses rude and belligerent behavior. It was clear that the troublemakers in the room failed to respect the forum, failed to accord common courtesy to their fellow citizens, and failed to conduct themselves as reasonable, rational adults.

Regardless of what we think of the commissioners or the issues, we owe a duty of respect and decorum to the proceedings and to other citizens. Our remedy for government that we don't like is available at the voting polls - not as violence and disruption of the process.

For shame!

Miriam Robeson

Flora

Credit where due

In my previous letter to the Comet, what I said about the county treasurer, Jane Brewington, was left out. We owe Brewington recognition/credit for being the first elected official to bring the county's financial difficulty to light. She said in an interview with another newspaper last summer that: 1. In January or February 2006 she, Brewington, transferred money from a reserve account of $8,000,000 at Lafayette Bank and Trust to cover deficits. 2. By December 2006 the amount was $4,000,000 and she went to councilwoman Ann Brown to tell her that she had needed to spend $4,000,000 out of savings. The county council formed the finance subcommittee of Ann Brown, Ron Slavens, and Steve Ashby, Jan. 26, 2007, to determine why the shortfall occurred. Brown contacted the Indiana State Board of Accounts for help. 3. Brewington said that the savings was started in 2001 and had always had $8,000,000 in it and she had never before had to take money out of it. Her concern was what if it happened again in 2007.

As most are aware now, the county is thought to have somewhere near a zero balance now at the end of 2007, unless the tax rebate is put into the county general fund (which the state has recommended not be done).

Brewington has been criticized, and rightly so, along with quite a few others, for her part in this financial boondoggle. There is plenty of blame to go around, but she deserves our thanks, too. for bringing this to light when she did and not waiting longer.

We (they) still need to find where this money went.

Joanne Ratcliff

Delph

Wants taxpayers to have a say

Monday evening (Dec. 17) at the commissioners' meeting I witnessed three examples of professional men of our county. An Economic Development Corporation director who is wanting to put a feather in his cap, a doctor who recognizes the dangers of that action, and commissioners who were called upon to make some tough decisions.

Dr. Tom Anderson made a passionate plea that we control the influx of cattle factories in this county. His plea was not concerning money - or fame, his plea is simply - Please be aware of what this will do to the health of our citizens. His concern came through loud and clear. Here is a doctor who is aware of the dangers we are facing and he spoke straight from his heart as he appealed to the commissioners to act in the behalf of the citizens they represent.

Emotions ran high and tempers were raw, but that doctor's compassionate plea stands out in my mind more than anything else that was said! EDC director Daryl Smith tried to explain why he feels we need not one, not two, not three but ? more cattle factories in this county. But his words rang hollow.

Apparently Mr. Smith and the folks who comprise the Economic Development Corp. in this county have no restraints placed upon them - including their conscience.

My questions are: Who are the individuals who make up the Economic Development Corp. in Carroll County? What are their roles? How are they justifying this influx of cattle factories? Are they going to profit from this endeavor? Who is ultimately in control of this group? and, How can the citizens be heard?

I would welcome the chance to discuss these questions as I am certain many others would welcome that opportunity also. I believe if our taxes help to fund Economic Development Corp. (in even the smallest way), we deserve answers.

Commissioner Bill Brown hit the nail on the head when he stated that IF it were possible for this to come to a vote, he had no doubt as to what the outcome would be. We all know that if the citizens were given the chance to say Yes or No to cattle factories in Carroll County our vote would be NO - and it would be loud and clear!

Pat Robertson Jefferson Township resident

Carroll Co. Civil War

This concerns a civil war being fought by every citizen within Carroll County, adjacent localities and yet-to-beconceived generations. All Carroll County taxpayers fund this war with their tax dollars funneled to the Carroll County Economic Development Corporation.

Is EDC a cleverly disguised taxpayer-funded entity whose sole purpose is to enrich business and special interests?

If you deem this statement erroneous, what has EDC done to enrich your lives in approximately two decades?

At the Dec. 17 commissioners' meeting, Courtney Justice fired a salvo of shots via an educated professional PhD. geologist, medical doctor Thomas Anderson, a citizens' group and others.

CAFO Camp fired return salvo with the threat of $7/gallon milk prices unless we build dairy CAFOs.

Across the battle line of opposing neighbors and former friends, the battle was hot, heated and love definitely was not in the air.

Having observed many skirmishes, I have formed the opinion that this war is not in most citizens' best interests and furthermore the majority vote is being used against the wishes of the majority of Carroll County citizens.

I would ask of CAFO proponents, when will it be enough destruction of our county? Must every breath be contaminated, every drop of water tainted, every square inch of soil used for waste and every stream polluted?

Thankfully, the large majority of Carroll County farmers retain values, love the land and respect their neighbors. To these gracious farmers we are all indebted!

Galen Perry

Delphii