Willow decision questioned

To the Editor:

Congratulations to the school board and administration on getting one passed over a sleeping community. You were able to shut Willow School without ever answering or addressing vital questions you were asked many times. This issue is not about shutting Willow, it is about the complete lack of planning. Most important it is about how you were unwilling or unable either of which should be a major cause for concern to address certain issues.

1. Why did we shut Willow without the bond first? What was the purpose of shutting Willow down? You have based your decision on a manipulated inaccurate budget sheet. Why were not all figures calculated in?

2. Rumor has it you are already looking to fill more administration positions? Is it true? If so why was this not calculated into costs?

3. Where will you put all those kids longterm? Should this not have been set forth before a decision was made? You never even looked at associated transportation costs in your analysis.

4. What will happen to the Title I money that currently serves these children? You are currently impacting the poorest children in the district, and going to take away funding that some vitally need.

5. What is the plan when the bond fails? Are you once again going to be moving children around? How many times in the past few years have you moved these children? How many more times are you going to move the children around?

You failed to plan, to get community support, to look at the ramifications of shutting a school. You failed to think about the best needs for the school. When are you going to start being responsible for your decisions?

I lack confidence in and question the competence of the La Grande School Board and district administration.

E. Andersen

La Grande

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Bumpy ride to hospital

To the Editor:

Recently I was suffering severe pain in my lower belly and coughing up blood. The paramedics told me the road going to the hospital would be rough and they tried to take it gently. The pain was so bad I was screaming and crying the whole time because I was in agony.

I found out from my aunt who lives in your town that all that is ever done to the roads is a patch job. That made my blood boil. I wish whoever is in charge of the streets could go through what I did. I would not wish this on anyone.

How many others have gone through this? Even prisoners get treated better. It is cruel to put a sick person through that. What are you spending your money on there? Can’t that road be made smooth?

Grace Hadley

Baker City

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Doing more every day

To the Editor:

I want to thank The Observer for allowing me the chance to show the power of God. To add to my guest column frorm Saturday’s paper, I would like to add that John Fitchett is pastor at the Elgin Baptist Church and my church is Trinity Baptist at 2705 Gekeler Lane in La Grande.

The Southern Baptist Convention is the third-largest disaster relief organization in the world behind the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. After Katrina over 9,000 yellow shirts SBA disaster relief volunteers have provided over 12 million meals; 87,000 showers; and completed over 15,000 cleanup jobs in the Gulf Coast area. We are still at it, doing more every day.

If you have any questions please come see me at Trinity Baptist Church or e-mail me at bgmrepair@dilabyte.net.

Bruce Gekeler

Summerville

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Recall based on personal issues

To the Editor:

I am reading with disappointment and not a little anger about the effort being made to recall Elgin City Administrator Joe Garlitz. I have known Joe for nearly 20 years and have worked closely with him on many city projects. I am a current member of the city’s budget committee and served for eight years as the Municipal Court judge so I believe I am qualified to discuss his service to the city.

No one has worked harder than Joe Garlitz for the welfare and betterment of Elgin. He is well-liked and respected by our county, state officers and legislators and is more knowlegeable than anyone I know regarding the laws, rules and regulations pertaining to municipal government finance and operations.

I seriously doubt allegations that he improperly used or directed the use of city funds and, as he states, the city council is responsible for how and where city money goes.

It is my belief that this recall attempt is based on personal issues involving the interaction of Mr. Garlitz and a city employee.

Recall of an elected official is a serious matter that is intended as a means of dealing with gross malfeasance or misbehavior in office that is so egregious that removal is the only option. The allegation that he is not well-liked in Elgin is totally bogus.

It’s true that some people don’t like him, but if you look a little further, you will find that most of these people have some ax to grind. I like him and I know a lot of other folk who do also.

Recalling a duly elected public official because of personal agendas and specious allegations of impropriety is uncalled for. I urge the good people of Elgin to support Mr. Garlitz and vote no on this unfortunate effort.

To those who support the recall I say this: Be careful what you wish for.

Ralph Howell

Elgin

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On being accountable

To the Editor:

My office was selected as a pilot for the Oregon Centralized Voter Registration system. When it was under development, evaluation of each module was necessary, thus frequent trips to Salem. I typically work 10-12 hours a day. I would leave La Grande for OCVR meetings after work. To save Union County money, I avoided staying at a hotel.

And now my accountability is questioned! Have I made errors? Of course. My work is very detailed. However, when I go to work at 6 a.m. where is Mr. Lamoreau?

Dennis Wilkinson and Carol Byron are members of the same PAC. This committee and Mr. Lamoreau have cost the county thousands of dollars in legal fees in response to their unusual and numerous requests, as well as staff time to copy travel vouchers, policies and to research their requests. One department will be requesting additional funding to keep up with their demands.

Mr. Wilkinson has requested the following from me:

? What make, model and year car do I drive?

? How many miles do I drive every year?

? How many times have I visited my daughter in Vancouver in 2005?

? How many days was I out of the county in 2005? How many days was I out of state in 2005?

I replied that I do not have to answer that. For the record, in 2005 I worked an additional 360 uncompensated hours; took half the vacation that would be allotted to an employee with the same number of years working for Union County. Elected officials do not accumulate overtime or vacation hours. I just keep track. Can Mr. Lamoreau even come close to this type of accountability?

Ask yourself has Nellie been accountable?

I would caution everyone to question the content of the negative letters. Half-truths and statements taken out of context can be deceiving.

R. Nellie Bogue Hibbert

Union County Clerk