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McCook Gazette
Letter to the Editor

Really baffled

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Dear Editor,

I am really baffled by the big fuss being made over the "crimes" committed by a couple of our councilmen. I personally think of robbery, murder, theft, drug trafficking, etc as crimes.

I can't believe we are paying up to $1,000 to an outside law firm for their advice on this matter. If we have $1,000 extra of taxpayers' money to spend, let's remember it will soon be Christmas and maybe donate it to the ToyBox, the Pantry or help some deserving families in our area.

The remaining three "eligible" council members unanimously voted to proceed with hiring the outside law firm even though it appears as if each one had reservations.

I would truly hate to see us lose one of the best councilmen I feel we have ever had. My vote has always gone to Aaron Kircher and (if my memory serves me correctly) I think he was a top vote-getter the last time he ran for City Council.

The thing I admire about Aaron Kircher is the fact that he really is the people's councilman. He votes for what he believes is right and normally it's right on ... if he doesn't agree with the other council members he will stand alone on his convictions and I really appreciate and respect that.

Aaron Kircher probably didn't use the best judgement in hosting a party with his friends and allowing it to get so loud that they disturbed the neighbors ... but he paid the fine and apologized. Most of us have made mistakes and hopefully we learn from them.

We should move on ... or the next thing you know we will be doing "background checks" of present and future council members just in case they have committed any "crimes" we should be informed of such as speeding, littering or a seatbelt violation?

A big thank you to both Shane Hilker and Aaron Kircher for their service --we voted them in to represent us and I hope they both continue to serve and hope that they will also decide to run for City Council again when their current terms are up -- they have my vote!

Sheila Berls

McCook, Nebraska

Comments
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  • Nice comments about Kircher.....but he shouldn't be voting on how he feels or believes. He is there to represent his constituents and isn't there to push his beliefs or convictions on the citizens that voted him in.

    I do agree that these two councilman have very trivial crimes that shouldn't affect the jobs that the citizens voted them to do. I can't believe our our attorney generals office couldn't solve this. I don't know how another attorneys opinion is any more valid that yours or mine.

    -- Posted by Pierre on Tue, Dec 13, 2011, at 7:25 PM

  • Did they violate an 'Ordinance,' or did they commit a 'Crime?' From what I have seen they violated a City Ordinance, worthy of a fine. They did not commit a 'Crime,' worthy of Jail or Prison Time. Just a thought.

    -- Posted by Navyblue on Tue, Dec 13, 2011, at 10:06 PM

  • PS, If I remember my Poli-sci, 'Laws' are passed at State, or above, levels, and 'Ordinances,' are 'Local' Villiage, Town, or City.

    The key words are, I believe: 'Violation,' and the other is 'Commit.'

    Merry Christmas, One and All

    -- Posted by Navyblue on Tue, Dec 13, 2011, at 10:13 PM

  • Navy - you should send the city a bill for $250 for your legal advice. It seems to me (meaning this is only my opinion) that you are right on. $250 would be a real bargain.

    -- Posted by Linda1547 on Wed, Dec 14, 2011, at 10:29 AM

  • The issue with Sheila's article is that is HER opinion, Pierre's comment, along with Linda and Navy as well as my own.... Opinions. Even if EVERYONE had the same opinion, it still could be later challenged by someone else's contrary opinion and open up an impropriety case. That is the issue.... Do we go off Sheila's opinion, Navy's or someone with opposing views? Who's opinion do we use? We can't base a decision off of an opinion, specifically an opinion by someone which may, in some facet, be connected to either side of the view point. The outsourced opinion keeps those on the opposing side of the outcome from crying foul. That outsourced opinion is still just that, an opinion, not a ruling. But to wait for a bonafied ruling will require much time and business must continue so if the opinion is to let the Councilmen be released, that doesn't mean its set in stone, it just means that the powers to be took the best efforts to do the right thing.

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Sat, Dec 17, 2011, at 1:27 PM

  • The dog incident was a violation of a city ordinance. Disturbing the peace is a violation of a state statute. Although neither one is serious in nature, both could be considered crimes.

    -- Posted by bntheredunthat on Mon, Dec 19, 2011, at 9:40 AM

  • Well said. As a new arrival to McCook, I am surprised by the 'white glove test' that these two councilpersons have been subject to long after their installation into public office. It makes nothing short of a bad impression and a new arrival, like me, can only be left wondering about the level of paranoia this debacle's fall-out is having on other public officials who might have ANY negative blemishes in their background at all -- no matter how minor. This matter makes the city look like nothing short of petty high-schoolers who need to focus on more worthwhile issues. As a new arrival, I feel one simple line sums up how I feel about these two councilperson's "devious" backgrounds: Who gives a s%&t ?! I can only imagine (and laugh at the thought of) how these minor offenses came to light in the first place. Nice chess match, council-members . . . you would all make Bobby Fischer proud. Furthermore, I am now scared about whether or not I am inhabiting a giant bubble, insulted from reality, now that I am a resident of McCook, Nebraska.

    -- Posted by oscillation on Mon, Dec 19, 2011, at 11:01 AM

  • My opinion is that the statute is poorly written and that the "crimes" the two were convicted of do not rise to the level of them needing to or already forfieting their seats. However how I feel really does not matter. It is the law and needs to be followed. The city did not write the law or break the law, they are just left to follow it. Contact Senator Christensen and get the thing changed.

    -- Posted by dennis on Mon, Dec 19, 2011, at 11:39 AM

  • Sheila, I totally agree with you, I do like both of these councilmen, and if they get voted out, I only pray that they fight the city on it, for such petty, bs. Sounds to me like some individuals want them out, and this is their way of pushing them out the door, because the real reason probably wouldn't hold up. So glad that our taxpayer money is going to this kind of crap! Make a decision people, without wasting money that could go to a family who can't afford a Christmas.

    Hang in their Mr. Kircher and Mr. Hilker, some of us are on your side.

    -- Posted by PayItForward on Mon, Dec 19, 2011, at 3:47 PM

  • PatIt, the "fight"is not with the city. If it is the law it is the law.

    -- Posted by dennis on Mon, Dec 19, 2011, at 4:40 PM
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