Letters to the Editor 03/27/2013

To the Editor:

Like many citizens, I read The Nugget, and find it consistently accurate and thorough. I was surprised to see important information missing from the front-page, "City Review of Expenses Yield Savings," (The Nugget,

March 13).

I checked with the reporter and the person who caught the error and requested the savings review to understand facts correctly. Both agreed there were omissions. The article did not name the person responsible for catching several years' billing errors with HCD (trash and recycling) of $2,500 per year to Sisters' taxpayers, or requested a review of telecommunications service (now saving $6,000 per year).

The person behind saving tens of thousands of dollars is Mayor Brad Boyd. How? Since November, he has been reading and checking thousands of pages of old and new documents (budgets, reports, etc.). He asked staff, persistently, to request reviews of telecommunication bills. A few other facts:

In November, within minutes of being elected, citizens came to him for help. This is two months of unrequired extra contribution before January taking office.

In addition to being a full-time downtown store owner, as mayor (a volunteer position), he often works seven days a week, morning until night. Example: Valentine's Day, city meetings starting 8 a.m., attended to some other business, and meetings until 9:40 p.m.

Sworn in on Thursday, he and Councilor McKibben Womack began walking Sisters streets Saturday, listening to local merchants and citizens. One comment, "I have been a merchant for five years and no one from the council has come to see me."

Behind the scenes, he's bringing important changes. Change takes a long time and sometimes hundreds of hours of effort. He listens to people's needs and works to streamline and correct problematic government systems and implement new ideas that will bring greater prosperity to Sisters.

I know Mayor Boyd is uncomfortable with compliments. Going the extra mile, he says he is just doing what he feels is needed. At times, I see citizens thanking him. He is humbled by appreciation. He would never seek to correct this article; however, I think it is important that we know the full story behind his work for all of us.

Karen Kassy

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To the Editor:

Where's the change?

Through all the talk by our newly elected city council members seeking to portray a stark contrast of attitude and ideas separating them from the prior administration, I gave generously in support of Mayor Brad Boyd and Council President McKibben Womack during their election campaign.

Recently I was informed that Council President Womack, while functioning in his official capacity during a meeting that took place at city hall on March 1, regarding the Wild Mountain issue, made a statement in which he alleged as fact, that the owner of Wild Mountain assaulted an unknown individual in the post office parking lot some time ago.

Mr. Womack further stated he knew this allegation to be true as "he was told the same story by four different people," yet he has refused to identify those people.

Council President Womack failed to investigate the allegations, which he sighted as reason for withdrawing his support for Wild Mountain.

If he had done so he would have learned through an investigation of public records that the citizen in question not only was never involved in such an incident, this person has no criminal history whatsoever.

How is it that our elected officials can be allowed to function as children in a school yard? Evaluating and basing their policy decisions on vicious rumor and innuendo? How is it that Mayor Brad Boyd who was present at a later meeting where Council President Womack repeated the same defamatory and slanderous allegation in an apparent attempt to discourage two individuals advocating for support of the Wild Mountain issue, would allow his council president to continue to function in this manner? This is a travesty, a disgrace, and something for which Council President Womack should publicly address and apologize.

Yet despite several letters from witnesses to the council president and mayor, including a letter from Councilor David Asson asking that a prompt response be given to a letter from the accused, there has been no response from either the council president or

mayor.

Ky Karnecki

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To the Editor:

To whom it may concern - When you "borrowed" my blue hand dolly from the porch of the house at 484 E. Adams Ave., I am sure you intended to return it after you used it. However it has been quite awhile since you took it. I am giving you a chance to return it now. If you just put it over the fence at the house I will not turn the matter over to the sheriff's office.

If you did intend to keep it you should not leave it where I can see it when I drive by your house.

Thank you,

Diana Pepperling