Letter to the editor

When we moved to Carter County in 2016 we came to love the feeling of community, of the way people banded together if there was a fundraiser for someone who was sick, or lending a helping hand to someone who needed it. We see the pride in ranchers and small businesses.

What has been an eye opener has been the Carter County Commissioners. I would have liked to have thought that a small community that everyone knew everyone in — would be more vested in everyone’s interests, in bettering the community. I really didn’t know any of the Commissioners until I wrote a letter last summer and received no response to a couple items. I waited weeks and finally called Commissioner Steve Rosencranz and was told “We didn’t think we needed to respond.” Really? I’m telling you about problems and asking for a solution and you just ignore it and don’t even reply to me. Then came the Dahl Debacle. Taking $20,000 of this counties’ hard earned money to look for others to take over the hospital. After all the work done by this community three men decided to override that! And not even having done their homework to know another entity could not be within so many miles of the then current Dahl. Nor to realize that was not what the community wanted. Money out the window. Then there is the question of why some County employees have been provided vehicles when they seldom do their job, and they use that vehicle for personal business, or they let other non County employees drive that vehicle. Another waste of County money. Purchasing vehicles from across multiple states and paying employee to get it — what happened to looking locally, at least in our own state? There are also questions of nepotism — the practice among those with power or influence by favoring relatives or friends. This was done by providing jobs to one and increasing the benefits of another’s job to full time strictly for the financial benefit of that person. Said person who is not even available full time in the Court House. And probably the most disturbing is the Commissioners voting themselves a raise in closed session. On June 30, 2020 the Commissioners voted to increase their own pay — which was 56% of the Clerks Salary — they decided to raise to 70%!!! Somewhere in the vicinity of $42,000 a year working just 6 days a month! They tried to make a big deal out of saying that they would add two days to the month — making it 6 days a month they were at work from 9am-4pm. But in looking at the minutes it is apparent they frequently adjourn much, much earlier and if you happen to call the Court House — they are gone for the day, often by noon. Now wouldn’t we all like to vote ourselves a raise and work as much or as little as we pleased for a pretty penny. That money comes out of your pockets and my pockets.

Possibly the most disturbing thing to me is really the lack of vested interest in our little community I see from them. Are our Commissioners spending their money shopping in our towns, attending community functions, interacting with all their neighbors? Are they working side by side on fundraisers or community concerns? Are they looking to help our citizens succeed by going to bat for them on a project or a bid? I found they weren’t even responsive to me.

There are different choices this election and in the upcoming elections. Faces that you see everyday, faces that are in the middle of planning events for this community, helping out their neighbors, faces that are kind and friendly. Faces that want to see this County thrive and succeed. It’s time for a change. Get out and vote, vote for a chance to better this community!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead

Respectfully submitted, Sue Schneider