By Donald Grotefend
Guest Columnist
Over the years, I have noticed a troubling trend of mismanagement in Cherokee County decisions. A good example is the lack of proper repair of the landfill compactor, resulting in a reported cost of $183,000 just to ship our trash to another county for disposal.
At the same time, the Candy Mountain Road recycling center was budgeted for three loads of gravel to be spread in order to have a decent lot. Four years have passed, and so far there has been only one load spread. Oftentimes it’s hard to step out of your car without stepping into a puddle of Dumpster runoff.
Another example is road maintenance. The first year I started paying taxes, the roads in my area were mowed at appropriate times.
Last year was bad. The contractor only mowed a narrow strip, and embankments were untouched. The grass was 3-4 feet high when they mowed for the first time on Aug. 12. Because they couldn’t see them, the contractor hit three phone pedestals on Wehutty Road.
What if someone had a medical emergency or fire and couldn’t make that needed call? Another lawsuit! As we have found out, the “no new taxes” mantra has led to an absurd burden on the taxpayers of this county, with even fewer services in return.
Who is supposed to check the roads? Why do I see water running out onto the roads due to culverts being plugged with leaves?
I have a personal interest in these things because I lost my 16-year-old daughter in a hydroplane accident. That brings me to the reason I felt the need to write this: The reason we have government is to regulate safety and security, and provide proper services for residents. I see a troubling trend of this side against that side.
When the General Assembly decreed that county elections were to be partisan, they screwed the voters. Why do they need to be? So we can fight among each other? Because when we are not getting along, they can get away with more corporate agenda?
As reported in the Cherokee Scout, large corporations made 29 percent more profit during COVID-19 – that’s why prices are so high. Greed.
When you vote, vote for integrity. Vote for candidates who are not supported by large corporations. When corporate/scam/SuperPACS fill your mailbox with wasteful negative campaign trash, they are just trying to maintain and even increase their grip on the elected officials. Your best interest is probably to vote for whoever they are against.
As Jessie Ventura says, there is only one party in the U.S.A. – the Corporate Party, playing both sides against each other. A good leader will say “the people” not “those people.”
The writer is a resident of Cherokee County.