Cheers and jeers

Dear Editor,

At an early age, someone scolded me, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" I remember thinking they were full of beans.

Haunted by that advice every now and then I try and say something nice.

With City Manager Fritch's guidance, the City Council made the Keystone project possible and is bringing the new National Guard facility to McCook. The required zoning for a new clinic was put on a fast track. It also appears Mr. Fritch and the council may have the backbone to finally get rid of several derelict buildings that blemish McCook like a pimple on the nose of a pretty girl. All good things.

(Geeze, being nice didn't hurt near as bad as I feared)

That said, the city continues to do things that should upset you:

Cash on hand from October 2008 to March 2009 (6 months) grew by $600,000 resulting in more than $10 million in city coffers. Saving for a rainy day is one thing, for a monsoon is ridiculous.

In February 2009, when reporting how they intended to spend $1,479,481 in sales tax receipts, $500,000 (over one-third) for "initial design/construction of a municipal facility." I don't remember voting for bonds or funds for such a project. Did you approve a new municipal facility? Does it make you mad it appears the city is planning a multi-million dollar project with your money and without your vote?

Do you recall the last time City Council tried to slip one by us? Public outcry resulted in bye-bye to the city manager and council's longest-standing member was voted out.

In addition to the previously mentioned $500,000, there was $248,000 "non-committed." This indicates they had over $748,000 (more than half) of the sales tax dollars to play with and yet not one red cent to create a single private sector job. (Over 33 percent to feather city hall's nest).

With all that money in city coffers and three-fourths of a million dollars to play with, I've got a crazy idea ... why not pay property owners back the$1,200,000 gave the city a couple of years ago to bail them out of the Air Base screw-up?

I fear the city feels the sales tax is a cash cow they don't need to feed. Increases in taxes due to inflation is of no value. Real revenues are increased by creating private sector jobs and by increasing retail market share by helping private enterprise.

Finally, a tip of the hat to the county commissioners. I have heard a lot of grumbling about the fact they will probably lose $300,000 because the loan to the helicopter company went sour.

Folks, forget the successes they have funded ... at least they tried. They were trying to create jobs, jobs that would have benefited the city more than the county.

In my book, trying to win, even if you lose is better than not entering the race.

'Nuff said

Bill Frasier

McCook