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.

Carroll Manor is service, not burden

It is with the utmost sincerity that I write this letter. I also am very concerned about the loss of public service that the recent budget cuts have caused. I grew up in Carroll County and want to live here the rest of my life. I also feel that we have a wonderful EMS and sheriff's department. I know many of them personally and have needed their service both personally and at Carroll Manor.

I do however feel that the need to address the recent letter to the editor. The approved budget for Carroll Manor in 2007 was $455,208. The budget did include salaries and all operational costs, excluding employee benefits. Early in the year at the request of the county auditor we gave back $3,150 and we also had a year-end balance of over $41,468 that was returned to county general. Nor did you take into account the amount of revenue that was received by the residents of Carroll Manor. We were informed that the budget should reflect the 2003 figures. The proposed budget for 2008 was already below our 2003 budget before the cuts began.

The county homes were not built to bring in revenue. They were always about a service and all the resources that helped to subsidize ours have been eliminated. I personally asked for an elevator to be installed to enable our facility to be at full capacity. We applied for and received a grant and are still waiting for the completion of the elevator. One of the criteria for the grant application was that the service continue for five years or the $500,000 be repaid.

I believe that if the negative publicity stops and some promotional work were allowed that the Manor can stand on its own and will not jeopardize the other public services. I also believe that the wealth of knowledge that the elderly citizens of this county share with family and friends is valuable and that we should continue to keep it close to home. We cannot just disregard the senior citizens of this county.

I encourage all taxpayers and residents of Carroll County to visit the beautiful 100-plus-yearold facility before you pass judgment on its worth to our community.

Martha G. Lewis Superintendent of Carroll

Manor

Thoughts on county's financial crisis

I recently contacted the county commissioners and the council. I sent them all the same e-mail with my concerns and suggestions. I received one reply that was the standard politician's response. But from council member Carl Abbott I received a very nice note explaining what happened to bring this all about.

If any of you have had any dealings with our state government in the past couple of years you will understand full well that they expect all aspects of government to change and come into the new century, but DO NOT grasp that the money is not there to do this, and that it can't be done as quickly as expected.

I am not making excuses for the commissioners or the council, but we do need to understand and help them come up with new ideas and ways to make this county a place many want to live and work. It is not all their responsibility. We, as citizens, can do much to improve many areas. We need to volunteer more, raise money to save projects like the historical museum and the canals. Those of us who have contacts with big business should be saying something to them about moving here.

We, as a county, have to help ourselves. Let's quit criticizing and ask what can we do.

Maybe you own a business and can see how to help them with the situation. If so, offer your services.

Maybe what you should do is offer your special skills to the county by running for elected office.

Churches, include the county in your services and your prayers.

Council members and commissioners, let us know how to help. Give us suggestions on what to do. Pull in those who have run a profitable business and get some advice from them. I will be behind you and pray for the best answers and solutions.

Good luck. I hope this newspaper will report all the facts and not just inflame people. The voice of this paper influences many and hopefully it will be for the good. Don't take a side - get in there and work with them for a solution.

Hopefully all of us will learn a little and join together to make this better.

Sandra Prendergast

Camden

Responds to letter

After viewing the letter submitted by Derek Jackson, I would like to nominate his name for the scrooge and grinch of the year award.

Based upon his letter, he apparently lacks compassion and respect for needy senior citizens. We are very fortunate we have this facility and caring staff.

Carl Perry

Rossville