City of Ronan shouldn't buy the golf course

Editor,

What a joke! How can the city council even think of buying if this is not first presented to the citizens of Ronan for their approval (vote) first? With the current financial difficulties facing the city, can they afford to go deeper in the hole? The city has failed to pay overtime and holiday pay to city workers, taken away the health insurance from the city employee dependents and violated many of its own written policies. And why? Money constraints.

Where do the tax dollars go? It sure isn't to street repairs. Some residents are paying SIDs to have decently paved streets. Sure, unexpected events occur but isn't it better to maintain things before they break down?

As the saying goes, pay me now or pay me later. Which is more cost effective?

What has the city of Ronan done for the citizens of Ronan? Not much of anything that I can see.

Law enforcement services are substandard with unqualified personnel performing police duties.

City maintenance is substandard, granted the city crew works extremely hard especially during the winter months. They are the best snow removal crew going.

What happened in the city clerk/treasurer office? Isn't there supposed to be an accounting at each council meeting? Does anyone look at what they are paying? Pretty difficult to see when the gas card of one person is more than an entire department.

Yet they want to buy a golf course that is over $400,000 in the red. I feel that the city council has enough problems to face currently without the added burden of this ridiculous proposal.

We need to clean up the existing mess before creating any further problems.

But if you don't know what the City Council is doing who can we blame?

The city council meetings are open to the public, so get to one of the meetings.

See what our city council members are doing without your knowledge. Get interested in your government or just sit back and don't complain about how it turns out.

I thought government in this country was of the people, by the people, for the people, not by the few for the few.

The ball is in your hands.Do you want to play or just lie down?

How about you business owners who live outside the city limits?

Did you vote for the city council members? I don't believe so but do you have a say in city government? The city policies affect your business don't they? You pay city taxes don't you?

What can you do to help the citizens with a problem that affects us all?

Or are you just going to sit back and be happy with things the way they are?

George N. Finkle

Ronan