Dear Edtior:
We’ve all heard the phrase, ‘Taxation Without Representation.?
The residents of our village may not realize it, but we are experiencing this firsthand. I have received the budget proposal prepared by Jakki Sidge for the upcoming budget year. In view of the economic climate in Michigan today, the budget is almost laughable. There is no mention of consolidating some services with the township to reduce costs or improve service. Do these people not understand what our community and the state are enduring? Many of the people they are supposed to be representing are struggling to pay bills and put food on the table.
At a recent meeting, we reviewed our quotes for waste collection. The meeting was opened for public comment, but the public was unaware that Ms. Sidge had refused to allow one competitor to submit a bid: a bid that would have provided the same or better service at a substantial reduction in cost. This bid would have given us a fantastic rate because we would share the same waste collection with the township. This would ensure a single pickup day and allow the agency to use the same trucks, drivers and other equipment at quite a savings.
Someone needs to explain why this company was not allowed to bid and why we are going to pay more for the same service. Someone also needs to explain why we are unable to reduce our DPW to two people and only work a four-day, 32-hour work week.
I’d say open your daily newspaper and see how bad the economy is, but they have reduced service and we no longer get a daily newspaper. Things are tough in Michigan, but for some reason the majority of our village council and the village manager do not seem to understand. We will again dip into our fund balance to make ends meet, but eventually it will be gone and we will have to hold out our hands for more money. Start attending our meetings and asking questions. We need to be held accountable for our actions or lack thereof.
Patricia J. Wartella
Goodrich