Your Turn
— Comments may be sent to the Marion County Record, PO Box 278, Marion, e-mailed to news@marionrecord.com, or brought to the office at 117 S. Third St. Please keep comments brief.
Congratulations to James Meier. You had the guts to say (last week's letter to the editor) what the majority of Marion County is thinking!
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I am not bothered by the incorrect information written by someone who doesn't live in Marion, but I am deeply saddened by the fact that the Marion County Record overlooked their own "policy" and allowed such a long, negative, inaccurate letter to be printed in our paper.
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It's too bad James Meier got his information from the Marion County Record instead of getting the truth.
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Is there a reason the Marion County Record doesn't cover the Marion Chamber of Commerce meetings? It would be nice to know what is going on with chamber members.
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In response to last week's article on the front page, "All is not fair in love, war, and government raises
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James Meier's letter was an accurate analysis. But don't put all the blame on the economic development director. What about the city administrator?
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One of my New Year's resolutions is to be grateful for all I've been given. As I read about the power outages in western Kansas I am newly thankful for the splendid service of the Marion city utility team.
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Last week the Marion County Record had an excellent article on economic development. Teresa Huffman, Marion County Economic Development secretary, organized a community effort in Florence that could very well result in the rescue of a small grocery business and keep a vital service in place for the community. Where was the organizational effort in Marion before Main Street Flowers closed its doors a month or so ago? A 20-year-old business that provided employment, locally-grown bedding plants, and floral services might have been saved with an engaged economic development director. At one-half the salary Marion County seems to be getting more "bang for the buck" than the City of Marion.
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Poor James Meier! As one of Marion High School's fine debaters, he should know to check his sources. His "loyalty" to his "hometown" sounds dubious.
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Has anyone else noticed that the city utility bills, that now come in metered envelopes, have a Wichita zip code? Since Marion's mail goes to Topeka to be metered, does this mean the local statements were mailed in Wichita?
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Hats off to James Meier. He hit the nail on the head and drove it home. When someone states the obvious, is it now called cynicism?
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Why does the Marion city administrator need a city-owned vehicle to drive to and from home? In these days of high fuel prices and global warming the Marion City Council could set an example and save tax dollars by downsizing the city vehicle fleet and replacing large low mpg vehicles with more fuel-efficient cars and trucks. Every vehicle in the city fleet should be reviewed in order to match the job requirements to type of vehicle needed and a plan of replacement that emphasizes efficiency.
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Can the editor of the Marion County Record count? Or do her own policies not apply if the writer of a letter to the editor is complaining about the City of Marion? Keep up the good work, Jami Williams. You are worth twice the amount you are currently being paid.
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If Jami Williams doesn't know the definition of economic development how do you explain Rick's Service, Good Happens Mini Spa, Seacat Lumber, Superior Wine & Liquor, J Photos, and the mini mall?
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Hat's off to Susan Cooper for researching statistics about pay increases in surrounding communities, James Meier for a well-written and much needed-to-be-said letter, and to Donna Bernhardt for opening an anonymous forum.
There are those of us in town whose livelihood depends on local customers and we're fearful to openly express an opinion about our questionable city government. Please, city council members, wake up.
This opinion has been around for over a year, so it's not forming just because our newspaper has shown integrity and voiced concerns now.
Our chamber of commerce used to be a good organization that was actually helpful to new and existing businesses. Other chambers in surrounding communities and towns are much more actively supportive of all their businesses.
People are also questioning the board of directors and administration of St. Luke Hospital. How can it be justified to give thousands of dollars in bonuses and then raise the clinic's rent?
The public feels like it has voted excellent people to be on the board. Please run "our" hospital responsibly.
Thank you Marion County Record for an opportunity to speak.
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If the economic development department has accomplished so much, why haven't we seen that listed in the Marion County Record?
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I was appalled by the incorrect information the editor of the Marion County Record allowed to be printed by James Meier in the form of a letter (or novel) to the editor. I wonder if his parents, the owners of the Wagon Wheel, feel the same way about economic development as he does?
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Can you imagine where this community could be if the major source of information for the last three decades had been a positive force behind it instead of a negative obstacle for community workers to overcome?
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Don't blame the development director or the city manager or even the mayor or council members. The only ones we have to blame are ourselves. We elected a mayor and council too timid to challenge the "everything has to be positive" people who are sucking the life and taxpayers' money out of our town. Thank God for James Meier having the courage to do what even the newspaper hasn't and point out how the voters of Marion are being snowed.
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I think if the taxpayers of Marion are going to pay $60,000 a year for a city administrator, they deserve one that's qualified for the job.
