Tnon Daily Bulletin, Thurs., Apr. 9,
Communication
An Open Letter To The Com
missioners, Taxpayers, Build
ers and Concerned Citizens Of
Polk County:
I became a resident of Folk
County in 1988 and since that
time I have become increas
ingly concerned about various
rulings, hirings and adoptions
of ordinances by our elected
officials.
The commissioners are to be
held responsible for the running
of this county for the best inter
est of all the people of the
county, not just a few choice
groups. The spending of the
monies collected for taxes must
be accounted for by our elected
officials and the employees they
have hired or appointed to the
various positions. With the
above statement mentioned
please let me explain or clarify
what I am getting at.
The construction of the new
Polk County High School
should make each of us proud
but I'm afraid that to some
people who really know what is
happening we will be saddened
and outraged to find that quite
possibly a less than standard
building is being erected.
What each of you will see is a
beautiful cosmetic design and
will not know what has been
covered up because of inade
quate inspection and supervi
sion. I ask because I know what
can be covered up.
Why? First, I ask because we
the taxpayers have placed our
trust in our commissioners as
well as those they have hired
such as the county manager,
new assistant county manager,
inspectors, contractors, archi
tects and engineers to deliver
what we are supposed to be
getting for our tax dollars.
Secondly, how can the county
advertise for an inspector who
is certified in all levels of
inspections and proceed to hire
an unqualified individual to do
the job; one who hasn't been in
the inspection field for the past
8 or 10 years and then to pro
ceed to expect cooperation from
taxpaying individuals who have
no idea that they had to dig
deeper into the county funds to
pay an outside inspection
department from Henderson
County to inspect the new
school and will need to do the
same for the renovation on the
old Polk Central School.
Thirdly, when did Polk
County become so large in size
and the magnitude of the work
1992
for the inspection department
that it takes the next day and
even two or three days for the
inspection department to make
inspections after the first initial
request for an inspection.
The instigation of a high re-
inspection fee has brought
hardships on our builders and
poor folks just because of legal
maneuvering and a lack of good
old, common horse sense. This
ype of departmental procedure
is evidence that we have
unqualified individuals who do
not know or have a total disre
gard for the laws which are
enacted or are already in force.
With individuals in control as I
have heard said, "To straighten
out this bunch of builders in
Polk County."
The state building code is a
state wide set of laws with
minimum standards supposedly
over seen by the local authori
ties and rule by the Department
of Insurance for the public
safety, health and welfare of the
general public not a department
for the cosmetic control of a
few glory seekers.
It is time in my opinion and
the opinion of a lot of people
that I have talked to in our
county that the county get ready
this fall to vote for candidates
who have the county's best
interest at heart.
I am writing this letter not as a
busy body, a jack-leg, or small
minded pea brain individual but
a concerned citizen who has 18
years in the construction field
plus eight years as an inspector
qualified in building, plumbing,
mechanical, electrical Level III
(each being the highest stan
dard required by the state).
I am also licensed in the lim
ited electrical field: having
qualified as an unlimited elec
trical contractor and I think I
can truthfully say: I doubt the
leadership being offered for our
tax dollars whether ignorantly,
deliberately or politically moti
vated.
On several occasions I have
heard judges say "Ignorance of
the law is no excuse." But I ask
our commissioners if they are
above the law? or do we live in
a county ran by a
"Godfather in-crowd." Sony,
please excuse the expression’
"God-person in crowd", or
could it be Polk County tax
payers are ready to clean up and
straighten out some bad pre
sumptions about our leaders
who have control of the use of
our county's taxpayer's monies.
A lot of people shun the use
of scripture ^ ? ^^Vit ^
P^Aii it lakes for sin to
^ for ^ P“’ le 10
do nothing.' for polk
codans ro ^-^
county is being run. Now is th
time for each of you to call
each of your Commissioners
County Manager, County
A ^kfor the facts, not political
hogwash. It’s public record. Call
the inspection office ask for the
lowdown on how things are
being handled and then study
the laws and see what is really
going on. Is our inspection
department an asset to our
county or has it become a polit
ical pawn, a money machine
controlled by an inspectors
interpretation? I'm afraid you 11
be surprised. Get the facts.
Then go vote in November.
W.B. Hodge
In an effort to allow the county
a response, this letter was held
over two weeks. At presstime
PINE CREST INN
EASTER SUNDAY DINNER
Noon to 2pm
April 19, 1992
For Easter Sunday dinner Chef Bill Squires has chosen a
celebratory menu with all of your favorites, so please join us.
SOUP
Cream of asparagus or tomato pesto with parmesan cheese
SALAD
Mixed green salad with house or blue cheese dressing
ENTREES
Lamb Chops - thick loin chops grilled with rosemary
and topped with a Madeira sauce
Poached Atlantic Salmon-fresh fillets of salmon poached
whtte wine, served with lemon-dill butter"
Roast Filet Mignon - sliced and served with a vreen
peppercorn and brandy sauce 5
DESSERT
Selection from
our dessert tray
^ price is twenty five dollars
f^L^RVATlONS CALL 859
-9135
Wednesday, that response was
still unavailable.
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WAI NUT, Butternut and Wild
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adv.l7,19,26,apr.2,9,17pd
FOR SALE: Early American
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$125 firm. Both excellent condi
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8,9,10p.
FOR SALE Appaloosa mare,
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$800. 704-697-8686. adv.pa
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$150 month. Phone 859-6508.
adv.7,8,9,10,c.
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