Published: November 20, 2007 09:45 pm            

Letters to the editor — Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007

Reader notes police who saved her dog

I would like this to be in the newspaper for the Kokomo community to know we have good patrol officers.

There are a lot of things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I want to express how thankful I am for patrol officers Kevin Summers and Jeramie Dodd for rescuing Zoey, my two year old boxer, from drowning in a swimming pool.

On Oct. 31st, Zoey fell into the deep end of the pool and after several attempts realized I alone could not help her. I called 911 and officers Kevin Summers and Jeramie Dodd arrived within minutes and took the challenge without hesitation. They were very compassionate and realized that my pet was part of the family. I am deeply grateful.

The police department saves the lives of people and also the lives of family pets. The city of Kokomo can be proud to have patrol officers with hearts that care enough for citizens and their pets.

May thanks to Kevin and Jeramie for their time and service to our community.

Kay McKee, Kokomo

Mayor urges citizens to watch city council

From the campaign it is now clear to all that by state law the mayor can never spend more than the city council sets in the budget. The council controls the city budget and the property tax rate.

In the budget discussions of this year, the Kokomo city council added in over a million dollars beyond what I recommended for 2008 and decided to enact the maximum allowable tax increase for 2008.

However, taxpayers should take solace in one cut that is still in the final budget that went to the State for approval. Over $150,000 in healthcare insurance was cut out that the city council had provided themselves for years. The council had been the only part-time employees of the entire city to get full-time employee coverage paid for by the taxpayers. All of the council people were already eligible for coverage through Medicare or their primary full-time jobs. Additionally, in comparing the salary and benefits our council got we could find no other council in Indiana that had such generous compensation.

As 2008 unfolds, residents need to closely watch the city council and hold them accountable to not try to add this costly benefit or other unneeded items back in the budget and thus in the taxes we all pay. And if we want taxes reduced, it needs to start with the city council making the hard decisions to cut the budget and not add to as they have done of late.

Matt McKillip, Mayor of Kokomo

Reader wants Dunn to step down

I agree with the letter to the editor by Gayle Sales published on Nov. 9, regarding the recent election results. The first time I heard Mr. Dunn speak was just before he became chairman of the Howard County Republican Party. His animosity toward other members of our party was evident. It was more fully expressed at subsequent gatherings and in published remarks. The remarks were divisive and improper for his position in the party.

His vision of how the local party would function was made clear in a form letter to Century Club members expressing the thanks of the party for our money and vote, period.

As a result of Mr. Dunn’s self promoting direction (I can’t use the term leadership) I cast my first votes for a Democrat since 1958.

I hope that changing circumstances will allow this to be a one-time occurrence.

Eugene Kiehl, Kokomo

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.