Pelican Press reporter Kelley Gorman is the talk of 56572 today. He wrote a spirited piece in his Page 4 column today. It is being praised by readers of 56572. There has been a request to publish Kelley's column on this page. 56572 would only do so if Kelley emailed us the copy and gave us permission. We have readers from around the world who either get the Press days later or do not subscribe. It's up to Kelley. You can encourage or discourage Kelley by clicking here. 56572 read the piece this noon and may comment on it later today or tomorrow. More writing like that will indeed keep Jeff and Julie happy and warm Gary's heart to boot. The letter to the editor column may need to look at expanding the next few weeks. How that column can get any better than it was today is hard to imagine.
8 hours ago
42 comments:
Thank you Kelly! You put to words what many of us feel about the future of PR. And thanks to Jeff and Julie for printing it. Now their phone is ring with upset people threating to quit advertising and cancelling their subscriptions. Been there, done that! And yes, I'm sure Gary's proud of you.
Here is my 10¢, My 2¢ are free:
I want to thank the people in our community and those in the surrounding lakes area that are willing to invest in the improvement of Pelican Rapids.
I salute the new entrepreneurs who face the tough task of creating a new business, the established business leaders who invest in a new operations to add to the betterment of our community, the civic leaders who see a need and work to get that need met and the volunteers who work to help the people in our community that are less fortunate.
A “hoo haw” to those that recognize what made the “Greatest Generation” great, was the fact that they understood the importance of sacrifice for the greater good of the society. People of that era gave. . . willing or not. . .they gave. They supported the new schools, the fire departments, the creation of tourist attractions and recognized the importance of supporting local merchants. They understood the philosophy that you can get everything you need in life if you help enough other people get what they need.
Winston Churchill once said: “We make a living by what we get, we make a life out of what we give.” And in an era where so many have so much it is great to see people who choose to commit to the improve of our town.
We often read the critics of improvements. I want to encourage those that are willing to make a difference with their time, talent and treasure, to be STRONG and stay STRONG. Continue your support of improvements of our community with your thoughts, words and actions.
Real,
Doug Bruggeman
A hearty thank you to the community's Concerned Taxpayers for keeping Pelican's outrageous pen-wielding spenders in line. You have been responsible for demonstrating careful, conscientious and conservative planning of our resources for a future that we are unsure of.
Today's Pelican Press editor claims that you have shot down dreams and passions -- THANK YOU -- because what he refered to as dreams and passions come at costs deemed unaffordable by taxpayers in our region. The proposed community center, new school buildings and new fire building all were proposed as financed projects -- none to be paid for with existing funds.
Who among us wouldn't enjoy readily available brand new homes, cars, etc.? Is it reasonable that we should obtain these regardless of financial resource considerations because "everyone else has them"? When it comes time to pay the taxes on our personal property improvements, do we turn to our neighbors and say "well I improved my lot, now you can pay the bill?"
Where is our town's future now that we don't have the "no-holds-barred" brand new school? It is still in good hands as we re-group and plan upgrades to the school buildings that we will find more affordable.
Has our excellent fire department lacked or been unable to respond because they are in a smaller-than-ideal building because a building compromise has not yet been reached? They are still excellent -- and we still hope to reason with them on building size, construction type and location.
Regarding putting off the Community Center, which was proposed as a hospital district and tax project -- good move, people!! There is physical activity to be had in all types of sports and physical activities available to all of us through a very successful main street business, Curves (or for those who don't want to feel the financial pinch of budgeting exercising) our public school's open gym and weight room. Not to mention that we have access to meeting space for gatherings and community events happening all over Pelican Rapids, at the library, at the schools, at the LREC and in businesses up and down the sidewalks and streets. Is it possible that forcing taxpayers (hospital district!!!) to fund an unnecessary community center would necessarily make the events that we hold any grander; would our children receive a greater thrill, or would we be any more or less likely to participate?
Editor Gorman claimed people are not coming to Pelican because we don't have the Community Center, the brand new school buildings and the steel-beam fire department with meeting rooms. I think not. Did Jeff and Julie's newspaper man turn down a job at the Press because it didn't have all the bangles and bows of New York Times? No, he's working here in our terrific community that we all helped build -- while demeaning the sensibility of our financial frugaliity. Interestingly, what Mr. Gorman is NOT doing is LIVING in Pelican Rapids and putting his money where his typewriter is by contributing to the financial tax burden that he expects us to take on.
I will let Mr. Gorman's dismissal of the concerned taxpayers fall where it may, it's easy to talk the talk when your not the one expected to walk the walk. If Mr. Gorman were a more experienced, seasoned newspaper professional, perhaps it would occur to him to request to participate in a meeting or two of the Concerned Taxpayer group rather than assume he understands them.
If Mr. Gorman's experience allowed journalistic integrity, he would have attempted a non-biased editorial following his research and learning about the beliefs and stakes for both sides of an issue (tip--see journalism textbooks for methods of non-biased approaches to telling a news story).
Please allow us to help you understand -- those of us concerned about the tax ramifications have not claimed that our school doesn't need any updating -- however we did say that we can update it without a 100% replacement -- that is simply wasteful and irresponsible --and the voters agreed -- to build a brand new school and abandon the value we have was extravagant.
We also have not said that our fire department doesn't need to be replaced -- they have done their diligence as recommended, have visited similar-sized departments in neighboring towns and have proposed more reasonable alternatives (more conservatively sized to fit needs vs. wish lists, wood beam vs. steel (which DOES meet city building codes, Chief Steeves--reference new city shop building)--because we support and care about our excellent volunteer department. We also desire an adequate fire building in a safe location (not next to the school)that serves our department's needs and accommodates our newer equipment -- we simply don't want to be taken to the cleaners on the tax bill for an "over the top" building.
What we are sharing is that we support community improvements like the school, the library, the fire building -- we are simply opposed to the gouging of our tax dollars with extravagant inability to determine scale of need vs. desire.
We support those business people in the community of Pelican Rapids (not just the city) who know the value of a dollar and who have worked hard throughout their lives to make what they have work and to figure out new ways to make all of our lives better. I do not support those who live on credit (including tax credit) and financed dreams. Life is reality and the reality is - there is nothing that a NEW school, NEW firehall or NEW community center could do for us other than make people wonder "where did they get the money to do that?"
Improvement is our important, operable word here. We support ongoing improvement and ingenuity to figure out how to make the most of our limited resources. We must rely on well-intended efforts on the part of those with the pens and the power in making it financially reasonable to obtain.
For those who want all the bells and whistles, then may we suggest that you become more creative as Mr. Gorman and Mr. Carlson suggest -- earn them! Try some creative fund raising as the community has done to build the library over the years! Creativity and personal actions to get involved in fundraising could go a long way in demonstrating that you have some skin in the game vs. demanding tax dollars to fund community projects.
A repeated request to the Press's editor: refrain from drawing premature conclusions and non-factual sweeping assumptions. Demonstrate your ability to suspend your assumptions and couch your bias in reporting by sitting in on Concerned Taxpayers meetings and getting their side of this. To truly "investigate" the ideas of the community of Pelican Rapids, find out what people's issues really are instead of just asking the Rotarians their opinions and shutting others down. Wouldn't it show greater creativity, writing skill and editorial ability to sing the strengths of your beliefs rather than blindly attacking those you view as "The Opposition"?! The biggest stretch that was made in today's editorial and blog comments was to indicate that people concerned with tax spending were not patriotic (references to WW II, New Deal, Roosevelt era, etc...) -- this is a real stretch, one that D. Bruggeman picked up on with his (also nonpertinent) Churchill quote and "greatest generation" comments. Perhaps the greatest generation is yet to come -- it is very limiting and lacking in imagination to believe that the best has already been -- that change, thoughtful consideration, ingenuity and creative funding cannot continue to bring us to ever better future and opportunities!!
In closing -- here's a proposed editorial topic for next week or the week after, Kelly -- what is the difference between a taxpayer and a voter in the Pelican Rapids community (hints: explore property owner/business owner/home owner--people who vote for new schools and school board members are not necessarily tax payers). Here's a suggestion for another editorial -- follow up to the Forum/WDAY story from a couple years ago about the below-poverty-level incomes of the people in this community who work for the turkey plant, who cannot afford to purchase an entry-level home--tie this into Mr. Carlson's and Mr. Bruggeman's comments about how fortunate members of the community are to have the plant in this city -- and a final tie-in: what will happen to the town, the school and the businesses if the plant should ever leave our community? I'll be glad for the success of our efforts for smaller tax commitments!!
To Our Community's Solid Future--
The Little Harolds
BRAVO Kelley! Thanks for having the courage to say what has to be said and to stand up to these bullies!
Kelley wrote a fantastic article. We moved to Pelican Rapids several years ago (retired couple) and we now are wondering if that was a good move. Pelican Rapids is, or can be, a beautiful city but there indeed are a few people who obstruct every positive thing that happens in our community. We would hope that the community good would be considered over personal greed. dnr
Investing in the third world has always been a risk, maybe the city leaders could ask the U.N or Hugo Chavez for help.
the little harolds?????? please tell me you dont call your "clan" that.. i think C.A.V.E people would be more like it.. (citizens against virtually everything)
its time we take out personal attacks on the concerned tax payers group... as they have done to some honest citizens of pelican rapids.. mr & mrs. cox its time you speak for yourself instead of letting mr johnson and mr kvare do the talking through you guys.. remember " If you live bitter, you die bitter" maybe thats something the cave people should think about
In response to "The Little Harolds". This post makes the CTPG sound like they really are looking out for our best interests, and I'm not convinced. If this is true, the CTPG maybe should "police" themselves better by preventing the extreme "radicals" from making statements printed in the media. You shoot yourselves in the foot everytime someone claiming to be in your group makes ignorant statements---for instance, the last letter to the editor!
Kelley Gorman is very correct about the possibility that there may be no one of the younger generation to lead this community. I am of the "younger" generation, and with every passing month, I find it harder and harder to want to stay in this community. It's like the last school building issue caused such a division among the community and the CTPG won't let it go. The citizens who favored the new school were very willing to get a solution hammered out, but the CTPG still won't provide, agree, or come up with researched ideas that will work for a common goal. That common goal of bringing the school facilities into the times, and yes, these times are competitive.
Every possible proposed community idea, for instance the fire hall, is considered a conspiracy to build the new school. Gimme a break! If you are concerned about your taxes, look at some of the other government entities and question them. The school district seems to be the scape goat for the feeling of having control over your taxes. In every respect for as long as I can remember, our school district has been extremely frugal with their spending. Has the taxpayer group EVER compared our taxes to surrounding school districts? Nevermind we don't even have an access levy in place just to operate? We have NOTHING to complain about, nor would we if we had decided to build that new school. Kelley, if you are reading this, how about an article comparing our school property taxes on valuation several neighboring districts? It may further put the nail in the coffin for the credibility of the CTPG. Oh, and how about the "we don't need a Cadillac, when we could get by with a Chevy". It's too bad that one of the publicly outspoken CTPG members owned a Cadillac, and it wasn't Harold. There's another story for you Kelley!
I love the people here, regardless if I agree with them or not. However, it's extremely difficult to believe that there is a future for this community. I so very, very much want to see this community have a future. I have heard so many times from my younger generation that Pelican Rapids just has nothing to offer. This is a generation that is in the verge of establishing ties to somewhere. Unfortunately, that somewhere won't be here if the negativity continues. There are younger citizens in the area who are perfectly capable to lead this community into the future, and I only hope the continual attacks on our council members, school board members, fire and police chiefs, school staff and others subside. We seem to forget that we all got along before.
"Little Harold", where were you 50-60-70 years ago? Those rediculous visionaries started it all with the frivolities of paving streets, city water, and slicing bread!
This is what I see. Most people in this community would like to see some sort of improvement, whether it be a community center, new fire hall, or more importantly a new school. I think that if it seemed BOTH sides of this issue were truly trying to work together, then perhaps Mr. Gorman would have decided to live in this community and not just work here.
Hi --
Little Harolds are not members of CTPG, but we agree with the nature of their conservative, fiscally responsible options to upgrading the schools, a more reasonable fire facility and keeping the hospital district out of the health club business.
Please choose to be responsible vs. react with "all or nothing" thinking when you assume that only the people who are for spending unlimited $$$ on brand new, enormous financed buildings have foresight.
I was not born 50-60-70 years ago when people stuck their necks out to build streets. But I bet there was a lot more open dialog, compromise and agreement on making improvements in manageable, financially viable steps vs. high rolling and devil-may-care "charge the taxpayers, we're making the decision" behavior.
There are more than two sides here -- there are different opinions of varying degrees.
We all need to be free to express our differing opinions without being "bad" and "dangerous". It is really neither true nor possible that any group has or could obstruct every positive thing in any community. The people who founded the country, the state and Pelican Rapids did not have a monopoly on good sense and the ability to compromise, to be creative with financing and to act within their means-- let's show our future generations that we can do this and find even better, agreeable solutions for our community.
(Ha ha -- couldn't resist -- how is it pertinent what type of car someone purchased with their own resources? And -- I'm certain that people have been slicing bread for over 70 years!!) Let's keep this fun and interesting -- ready to remove the anonymity option Lorelei?
Make it a great day --
The Little Harolds
How great it would be to have all these comments, good or bad, as Letter to the Editor, with names attached. No one will believe there is support for things unless people step up to the plate and take ownership. It has been great to read the interest on the green pages of 56572, mostly under the cover of anonymity, but I think it would do well to have it in the paper as well. What are you afraid of? That friends on the other side of the fence won't agree with you? That's democracy. Just a thought.
I think one reason many of us want to remain in anonymity is the vindictive, confrontational nature of the beast in question.
I think we need some new blood on our City Council - things need to change before it is too late. Our town is dying...... let's make a difference and let's start today!
"The Little Harolds"???? PLEASE
I smell a rat...The "Little" Harolds asking Kelley to go to the Concerned Taxpayer meetings to see the other side of the story, then later stating they are not part of the Concerned Taxpayer group. I guess we'll make our own assumptions on that one.
Cheers to whoever came up with C.A.V.E. How fitting.
dear "little harolds, why do you want our names so you can try and exploit us in the newspapers too??
I think the good people of Pelican Rapids have spoken out loud and clear. Would you rather have Kelley Gorman in your corner or the C.A.V.E.? When the naysayers opened their mouths, they removed all doubt as to their credibility and intentions. Does not the anonymity on the blog also apply to Little Harolds?
Good Day --
Great suggestion to remove any anonymity -- Little Harolds are Harold Marty's children. You may reach us through
rkjoseph@loretel.net if you would like to discuss any of your opinions further; we would welcome the opportunity to understand your viewpoints.
A word of encouragement to re-read our messages above if you were confused, as you said -- our opinions include:
1) that there are far more than two sides to these issues;
2) that while we are not members of CTPG, we support many of their fiscally responsible, personal accountability measures to slow public credit (tax) spending and to look at creative resource options for community building;
3) that we support building a reasonably-priced fire department as has been proposed to the chief, as well we support a remodel of our school buildings to ensure a quality learning environment, safety, security and adequate access to current technology in our schools--the next step is not in our hands; rather, it is in the hands of the school administrators following the majority vote of the community to not build the brand new school;
4) that calling people who disagree with you on a limited number of topics "naysayers" and
"cavemen" and making sweeping assumptions about individuals you disagree with actually IS exploitative (note no name calling in our messages explaining our position),
5) While we are not members of CTPG, we stand by our suggestion for Editor Gorman to participate in their meetings before publicly bashing them so that he could be responsibly informed (not to mention to fulfill his journalistic duty to present unbiased reporting).
Many thanks -- your feedback always welcome -- isn't this fun and interesting!
I have to responed to the comment about new blood on the city council. The only way we get new blood is for someone to step up to the plate and say, "I'll run for the job". But most would rather talk smart and complain about the ones that are willing to do it. If it's the filing fee, I'll gladly pay yours at the next city election.
Kelley's editorial was on the opinion page, so I don't feel unbiased reporting requirement should apply. Quit blaming Kelley for a slanted article. When you read the opinion page, you get opinions. When you read the news, then one should expect fair articles.
I am not a LH or belong to the CTPG and I voted NO to the new school. It had nothing to do with taxes either. I did not feel that the plan was presented well at all. Questions were side steped and it just seemed a little shady. With large purchases I (along with many others I am sure) like to make informed decisions and I just did not feel informed.
I think this is a great time to start thinking about new blood on the city council. I am not sure if there will be slots to fill next year or not. Anyone have any names in mind? I can think of a few.
Let's brainstorm and make this a group project for the next election..
signed, #1 Dylan Fan
I am not a PR native and was introduced to the 56572 blog “second hand”. I don’t have any skin in the game, just a level of curiosity. I have the kind of curiosity people have when they drive by an accident scene and slow to get a glimpse of something unimaginably horrific. You know you should just keep your eyes forward and keep moving, but something deep down inside nags and tugs at you to take at least the quickest of glances. My inability to turn away from the PR blog is much the same. I am disgusted by what is written but continue to read until every last one of my sensibilities has been assaulted.
The recent reaction and comments written by Kelley Gorman in the Editorial pages of the P.R Press inspired me to do two things: 1) Cancel my subscription to the Pelican Press and 2) venture fourth with my own entry on the 56572 blog. I didn’t cancel my subscription because of Kelly’s point of view. I cancelled it because anyone in business who purposefully alienates 50% of his/her customer base in order to appeal to the other 50% doesn’t want my business. I would recommend every like minded subscriber do the same. I imagine that for every pat on the back Kelley has received, he has also received a punch in the gut. In business, that is an intolerable risk profile.
As I read the comments associated with Kelley’s article, I am bewildered by the name calling and lack of respect by some members of the PR “community” for others. The blogs entered by “The Little Harolds” are reasoned and offer compromise. The only name calling I read are from those on the other side of the issue. Examples of the name calling I read are as follows:
- These bullies
- Greedy
- C.A.V.E
- Extreme radicals
- Vindictive, confrontational nature of the beast in question
Not only did I take my foot off the gas, but I also applied the breaks to get even a better look at the gruesomeness.
By nature I am conservative in my decision making and with my personal resources. I have always found it curious how people who do not have this same nature can be so willing to spend other people’s money. They are not only willing, but they pursue the initiative with a sense of entitlement. If not successful, they resort to the shabby tactic of frustrated name calling and labeling. Maybe the reason some ideas go down in flames is they are simply bad ideas brought forward by well intended people who didn’t prepare properly or did not accurately identify and asses a need. My sense is that the good people of the CTPG are not anti everything….just anti programs and projects that over promise, under deliver or do not serve a legitimate need of BOTH the citizens of PR proper AND the affected citizens in the surrounding area.
For those of you out there who are motivated in any way to make disparaging remarks (even in the slightest most backhanded way)of a good man who is no longer with us to defend himself have shown everyone your true colors and lack of sensibility.
If you haven't noticed, you have moved out to the really thin ice.
Robert E. Gettel
I do think a large number of school "No" voters felt the same that is was about how the plan was presented, not how the CTPG or the Little Harolds felt. Whether we liked it or not, the way it was presented had room for improvement. We shouldn't let the CTPG groups feel that they are more popular than they boast to be, because I think many don't see the issues like they do.
I for one don't see here where anyone has been disparaging Harold Marty. I may not have shared his views, but I respected the man.
Amen to the "Little Harolds" of this world. If you take a serious, unbiased look at the content of what their entries say versus the content of some of the anti-Little Harold entries, clearly the Little Harold entries are superior vis-a-vis the level of intelligence, insight, facts presentation, and lack of name-calling. And remarkably, the comments of the "Little Harolds" sound logical and well-reasoned without them (the Little Harolds) having had the benefit of a brand-new school building!!
If people are concerned about PR "dying", then why in the world would anyone want to saddle PR folks and the surrounding rural area folks with a commitment to tax increases? We could have a nice, pretty town with a new school and other nice new facilities, but who would want to invest in a place with such continuing guaranteed tax increases on the horizon? If businesses are closing now, what do you think will happen when tax burdens become even higher?? Econ 101, anyone?
Bravo, Little Harolds. Why would anyone decide to invest in the Pelican Rapids area if they knew there were big tax increases facing them? I thought the concern is that the Pelican area is dying. What better way to ensure its death than to discourage people from investing in the area? Well, maybe calling opponents cavemen, accusing opponents of personal greed, etc, would also help to discourage people from investing in our fine town.
Why do many of responses in this blog only focus on your taxes? For what most of us pay here and what we get, it's a pretty good value. Let's stop the bickering and get down to business. My hope is that someday both sides would logically comprimise.
I'm no rocket scientist but if the fire department wants to build a new fire hall out of gold bricks I think we owe it to them, every time they get called out they are risking there ass for someone they dont even know. They are the best!
An earlier person who posted asked "Why do many of responses in this blog only focus on your taxes?", also stating that we get good value for our tax dollars.
The complaints are not focusing on our current level of taxes---OTC has done a good job at keeping our taxes attributable to county needs low, and we applaud the commissioners (including our own Mac Lee) for their fiscal responsibility. But we do need to look at what would happen if all these local "wants" (as opposed to "needs") were approved. What would your taxes be then? We had the school building consultants give us the lowdown on what future taxes would be for us if the school bond issue passed; their answer did not fully account for the future inflation of land values, but even without adding that factor in, there is the real possibility that we would have to sell our family farm (in the family for over 60 years) because of the increased taxes. Does concern about this mean we are guilty of "personal greed" as one early post mentioned? I think not.
And I am concerned not only with my own taxes, but with the effects on others and the community as a whole, too. People are constantly bemoaning the decline of Pelican, but like an earlier poster said, what better way to ensure its death than to impose higher taxes?
Remember what we learned in school, "The power to tax is the power to destroy"? And, yes, I know Oliver Wendell Holmes said "Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society"---but he said "taxes", not "confiscatory taxes".
On a national level, one sure-fire way to slow the economy is to increase taxes; why do some think that same principle of economics does not apply to Pelican Rapids?
amen to that one. we shouldnt even be arguing about a new fire hall at all. these men would risk there life for someone the don't even know. I think its time we gave them some support instead of trying to bash everything. so if dunn does switch to DL or vergas they can't actually truthfully expect the response time that they would get from the pelican rapids fire department. they need to think about that before they make there final decision.
I just want to give a big thank you to all the people out there who are trying their best to move forward in this community. I also want to give a thank you to the firemen who risk their lives every time they get a call to save the same people who are so against them. I feel honored to say that my dad is the chief of this department and is working torwards the greater good of this community.
Amen to that Elizabeth.. and good for you for actually signing your name, at 18 you have more guts than most people that comment on the blog. :)
Mrs. A
Did anyone so concerned about econ 101 and taxes survey the businesses in and around the community? I have suspicions that a large number of businesses-perhaps the majority-think that these "large ticket items" paid for with "confiscatory taxes" may have been a good for the community and its economy. A town with no future surely isn't good for long-range business ventures.
All of us who care about making Pelican Rapids a vital, growing community should thank Kelly Gorman for his courage in igniting this dialoge. But it can't stop there, it's time for all the people who believe that working in the negative is for the past and working for the future is in the best interests of all. If we don't take charge and make things happen, shame on us. One thing we can learn from the Concerned Tax Payers Group is this: you can make thing happen if you care and work for it. So, no matter what side you find yourself on of these issues, be heard, do your part and understand that if you don't express your opinion, you give up your opinion.
It's time to end the name calling and negativity and look within our community for leaders and to successful communities around us for help and inspiration. How have they built schools, community center, golf courses and more importantly community pride with out bankrupting the taxpayers.
I have lived in Pelican Rapids for all of my 25 years. My parents bought their first home here and have lived in it every since. I am proud of where I grew up and have dreams of raising my children here. I am saddened to hear how people are calling names, and singling out certain people and berating them.
Taxes aren't fun but they are a part of life…now by saying this I am not agreeing that we should just approve any little opportunity whether it good or bad, which would lead to our taxes raising. But I am saying, "Have an open mind!" Yes the school does need a lot of work, yes the way it was presented didn't fit this towns needs, yes the fire department has way out grown their building, but can we meet in the middle to find a satisfactory result??
The fire department...I'm guessing many people don't know that the trucks in the fire hall are special ordered just so they fit inside the doors and that the firemen do not get paid much at all. And Chief Steeves has done a remarkable job finding government funds to assist with buying new gear and equipment, along with finding some assistance with the last truck that was ordered. All to save us tax dollars. Not to mention the fact that they do extensive training and test with the state on response times to lower our homeowners insurance.
Finding someone else to fit the shoe (i.e. Scambler and Dunn looking to hire DL or Vergas, or build a substation running off of PR's fire department) doesn't make any sense at all. The response time of DL or Vergas would only benefit the residents closest to them, not including the fact that their home owners insurance (if they can find some) would double or triple depending on where they live. And the idea of a substation is just ridiculous. It would require obtaining a building site in a central location, finding people to staff the station (who live in that vicinity, work in that vicinity, and are able of the work requested), training them, buying gear, buying trucks and equipment, plus reimbursing Pelican for assistance and possibly still chipping in on their fire hall. The costs for these residents would not go down it would go up and besides that they would still need Pelican, DL, or Vergas to respond, overall it wouldn’t benefit hardly anyone. Are they really worried about their taxes or do they just want to be argumentative?? Because figuring out the bottom line they would end up paying double with the substation option!
Oh and I figured out how much my taxes on our home in Pelican would go up with the fire hall. Based on tax value, our home is at $81,000 for 2007. The proposed fire hall would increase taxes $12.50 per $100,000 of tax value. So my taxes would go up $10.13 for 20 years. I have spent $10.13 on more ridiculous things…a movie/cd I didn’t really need, going out to eat, playing the lottery. Come on people!! And just for the fun of it I also figured out what it would cost someone with a larger piece of land say taxed at $500, 000. It would cost them $62.50 per year for 20 years. If this is going to put someone in financial ruin than maybe they should think about moving into an apartment.
And Councilperson Peterson, let me know how I can help!! Whether we find someone together or you might be able to talk myself or my fiancé into running.
If everyone is so sure that the costs to Dunn and Scambler township residents will go up if they build a fire substation, and that there is no way enough good people can be found to staff it, why is everyone so upset? You evidently already know what I am trying to find out! I have spent my own time, money and energy researching costs, equipment needs, staffing needs, etc. Why you may ask?, because I believe it is better to KNOW what the costs and obstacles are, than it is to ASSUME that they are insurmountable. I find it curious that some people view asking questions and looking at alternatives as obstructing progress. I believe it is better to make an educated decision, rather than an emotional one.
I have been asked “What I have against the Pelican Fire Department?” My answer is “Nothing, they are a great group of men who do an outstanding job!” My question in return is; “If it is possible to improve fire coverage for a significant portion of the area served by the fire department, why would you be against it?”
Wayne Johnson
Sense of community maybe? You can't put a dollar amount on everything. (I live in Dunn Township).
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