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.
A recent contributor to the Letters column wrote of "perception." There are two kinds of perception: that of the positive things that happen in Marion and that of how the city is governed. The latter is the need for the Your Turn column. Leadership by cronyism begets abuse of power, arrogance, neglect of the common good, and government by the few. True leadership is a city government for the people, who will listen to the people and will conduct city business in open public meetings. Letting the people have an informed and participating part in their city government fulfills "perception" and creates city growth.
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Not only is Mary Olson an experienced mayoral candidate, she is also a pleasant, capable, and trustworthy person who cares about our town.
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We enjoyed the melodrama presented by Marion High School. As we were sitting in the auditorium it occurred to us that after the new school auditorium is completed, could the city auditorium be used as the Marion movie theater?
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Anyone mistakenly thinking Mary Olson's governmental experience as mayor of Lincolnville is weak should check the absolute lack of credentials of some of those now in leadership positions within the city.
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In reply to the article about "Inmates pay their way in jail," how could someone already so poor possibly pay more? Marion County could adopt a slogan, "No jail needed in our county. We care for our people." Adults, churches, civic organizations could "adopt" (like Big Brothers Big Sisters) an inmate to nourish, accept, and care for them, one on one, just like you would like to be accepted and cared for if matters were reversed. Help them find a job, tutor them with basic fundamentals, just encourage and accept them. Might help too if the local sheriff would visit with June Jost to see how he managed so well with so much less.
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Thank you, Jeremy Armstrong for speaking for the citizens of Marion that appreciate the positive things that are happening in our wonderful town.
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Mr. Winkler may have missed the point. Selling on the sidewalks is fine. Chaining things to a fire hydrant is breaking the law. Chaining things to a fire hydrant next door to the police and fire station and not getting ticketed
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Are the salaried people for the city exempt from working the standard work day of 8-12 and 1-5? Yet, they can draw comp time.
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Shame on the Marion community. We have lifetime residents in town whose small son just received a liver transplant. Imagine the expenses they have — loss of income to be with the child, lifetime medications, etc. Where are the donation buckets?
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Doesn't the city's ED have more important things to do than write columns for the paper? Maybe she is just trying to justify her position.
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Why wouldn't the City of Marion want a NEW mayor with previous mayoral experience? Sounds like a good "guide to future progress" to me!
So far, I don't see all the progress you mentioned. How many businesses in Marion can pay a living wage so our young people can stay in town to work?
As for the streets — that is another whole subject by itself.
I will think about your comments as I cast my vote for Mary Olson for mayor.
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Does building a parking lot for semi trucks, where no one can see it, where no jobs are created, and very little if any tax revenue is generated, equal any economic progress?
Marion is a progressive town. I don't believe a residentially-zoned community is a proper place for semi parking. I don't believe from a budget point of view it deserves the extra expenditures needed for the street makeover, or the higher maintenance it will create.
I've got an answer — put up a toll booth and charge semis to drive down the street, creating some sort of income to help with expenses and upkeep. One job would be created — toll keeper.
What seems odd to me is that these drivers are willing to pay to park their semis, but think it's unfair of the business to limit their parking for customers only or a monthly parking fee.
It's an odd decision to pay a fee just to park, when all they have to do is buy fuel, something they need anyway to conduct their business, even if it is higher than other places. Maybe they should park where they fuel.
