Letters to the Editor

Citizens and Friends,

This is my first-ever "letter to the editor" of either Buffalo newspaper. I know I am far from being the most influential citizen in this town, nor do I get very vocally involved in most local elections. I do feel, however, that this upcoming election features some important issues. I'd like to clarify my stance on one of them.

I am strongly against the proposition to bring the sale of alcohol to our town. In truth, I did sign the petition to bring the proposition to the ballot, but I did so by mistake. Months ago when I entered a local store, two men with the petition stopped me and told me that this petition was to make sure that no laws were "shoved down our throats"--basically, they said, we need to make sure we got to vote on the issue. I was in just enough of a hurry that day not to realize what they actually meant, and I very ignorantly thought that I was signing something else. The thought that ran through my head was a simple one: Yes, we should always get to vote on laws concerning us! Yes, I will sign. It took me only a couple of days to hear what the truth of the petition was and that I didn't mean to sign it. I spoke with a few people about it some even told me that they too felt as if they'd been tricked. Even if these men had purposely tried to mislead me, and even if I had been in a hurry that day, these are still no excuses for my own stupidity and carelessness.

To reiterate, although I signed this petition but will vote against the proposition in May, I have not had a change of heart. It might be too late to get my name off that petition, but I still have time to publicly say that alcohol in Buffalo can only yield negative outcomes. I know that people in Buffalo drink now, but I also know that the amount of drinking will not lessen if this proposition passes; it will only go up. I have only ever heard of alcohol ruining lives. I've never heard of how it is beneficial. I have lost close relatives and a very dear classmate (when we were only 19) to drunk driving. I have also lost students to accidents caused by drunk driving.

It is a known fact that too much alcohol causes people to make bad decisions. It seems like a simple formula to me: the more alcohol in our town, the more people we will have making bad choices. Speaking for myself, I make enough poor decisions when sober (as evidenced in the above story) that I don't need any help making worse ones.

In short, please vote no on this issue in the upcoming election. I will be.

Jill Henson

Dear Editor,

Did you really believe that we would not have an ambulance service after April 7, 2009?? It is my understanding that within the very first week following the April 7, 2009, deadline that we had three opportunities to have an ambulance service. The first two companies wanted compensation up front and the county officials turned those offers down. The third company, Legacy, an ambulance service from Bryan, agreed to serve the proposed ESD #4 for what they would receive for the services rendered. This offer made it difficult for the Leon County Judge and Commissioner to reject their offer!

These are officials that were elected by "We The People" of Leon County. We elected them to keep our best interests in mind. One of these officials, I personally believe, authorized the reverse 911 calls that took place both on April 6 and April 7, 2009. The purpose of these calls appears to have been to scare as many people as possible, especially the elderly, on fixed incomes. These same officials did not bother, however, to do another reverse 911 call on April 15, 2009, to advise the people of the affected areas that we have an interim service. This action would have reduced the fear that so many of those in my area have experienced. All of this anxiety could have been avoided if the ambulance service would have remained in effect until the May 9th election. Due process would have let the election take place, and the voters could have decided what is best for them. It is my opinion, that this hype was created to put pressure on the voters and make them vote with their emotions instead of their logic. Let it be clearly understood, that I absolutely agree that we the people in Oakwood, Flo and Buffalo need an ambulance service, but I believe that everyone should pay the same fee for the same service. Why is this so difficult to understand??

Furthermore, I want to remind everyone that this election is going to be held on Mother's Day weekend and I know that we will all be busy with festivities to honor those wonderful Mother's in our lives, but it is also so important that we ALL take part in this election process that I ask you to please make arrangements to cast your vote. Early voting will be available at the Leon County Courthouse or by mail.

Again, we definitely need an ambulance service, but it should be a fair process by which we appoint this board and fund this service. Sincerely, Joe Stevens

Dear Editor,

What does it take to get a light bulb replaced?

Our flag has been flying in the dark for over two months in front of the Buffalo Post Office. The Flag Code states "the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness". Surely the Post Office as a government building has a copy of this code. But our flag has been flying in the dark for over two months in front of the Buffalo Post Office. I have reminded them several times and the bulb still has not been replaced.

Have you seen the Wall of Honor inside the Post Office honoring our soldiers that are fighting overseas at this very moment? I wonder what they would think if they could see how little we think of our flag? If the bulb cannot be replaced could not the flag be removed at night and shown the respect it deserves?

Joyce Stark

Dear Editor,

Recent letters to the editor cause concern about the hope of passing ESD-4 due to the wealth of false information circulating among those who are opposed and presented by them as fact.

The first time it was on the ballot in May 1993 it could have been paid for by a .02 cent SALES TAX which was available at that time. Well, guess what? It failed countywide by 279 votes. Now the SALES TAX IS MAXED OUT by State law so we can forget about paying for it with a sales tax.

We have had numerous open forums and public meetings and more are planned where all the facts are laid out and questions and discussions are encouraged.

Proposed tax: .10 cent (one dime) per $100 (dollars) of property evaluation (after all exemptions).

Tax rate cannot be raised without voter approval by legal ballot. Monies collected are earmarked and cannot be used for anything other than ESD-4.

Monies are monitored by a five person board nominated by the voters and appointed by the Leon County Commissioners Court. They will be audited by County and State.

Only you, the voters, can change any of the above by legal elections.

Please talk to the people from the other three highly successful ESD's, and find out how they feel about their ESD's.

How can we answer someone who desperately needs an ambulanc to save a loved ones life when there is no one to send?

"Sorry, but we voted it down every time because we just did not want to pay extra taxes".

None of us want higher taxed but everyone agrees we need an ambulance service. They are just not willing to pay for it. Does anyone have a better solution??

Property owners have always carried the burden of providing for those without. Are we our brothers keeper? I hope that we are, for in so doing we also provide for our own.

Some good news is that Judge Ryder and Guardian EMS are working on a plan to provide us with interim ambulance service. Keep in mind this service would be TEMPORARY....If ESD-4 fails again they would have to pull OUT!!!!!

We go to vote in less than twenty days. If you have doubts, ASK! ASK! ASK!, and get all facts and as Judge Ryder suggested call the Tax Appraisal Office to find out what your taxes would be.

We CANNOT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT EMERGENCY SERVICES. Life is too precious. Howard & Pat Myers

P.S. Speaking of scare tactics and mis-information, we just received the second mail-out from "Taxpayers Opposed to ESD-4....It would be interesting to know what they use for calculators. Now they say 10 cents a 100 amounts to 24% tax hike.

Funny, tax payers in other parts of Leon County with ESD's are not going broke... We are dealing with people's lives here and that is not scare tactics, but fact.

Dear Editor,

On Tuesday, April 14th, an EMS provider arrived in Buffalo to help out on a temporary basis.

I was contacted by four different providers to present what they were able to do until the vote on ESD #4 on May 9th. Two of the providers said they would come until the election with no subsidy from any source, charging only the fees collected from the transports of patients, either by insurance or fees collected.

Let me make the point very clear; this provider is here to care for the citizens the northeast part of Leon County until the election results are tabulated.

If the election fails on May 9th, they will be packing up and leaving on May 10th, but when the election passes they have agreed to stay on the job until a board is appointed and a provider is chosen.

This process will take about 60 to 75 days after the election.

I also want to make it perfectly clear, there has been no permanent obligation made to the present provider, they are only here for the welfare of our people. The provider is Legacy EMS from College Station.

If you have any questions concerning our arrangement please contact Kevin Carnes, Legacy Pres/CEO at 979-450-6610.

I want to take a moment and thank K& L transport from Jewett for all they have done while this part of the County was without an ambulance. They did an outstanding job trying to fill the void of no service. If you see them please thank them. They deserve many, many thanks for the professional and efficient service they provide.

One other note concerning the timing of the vote. There was no plan to have an ESD option on the ballot in the May election. It became a necessary option after the receipt of the letter ending the service of Palestine EMS. There had been discussion about the possibility of a November ballot option but not May. After the receipt of the letter, the May ballot and election became a priority to give our citizens their vote.

Please get out and vote on Saturday May 9th, 2009. I sincerely appreciate all of the support you continue to give during this crisis. Thank you, Byron Ryder Leon County Judge