Letters to the Editors

'Yes' on police issue was a vote of support

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 23, 2000

We would like to respond to your article concerning the recent Police Department referendum in Kenneth City. We have been residents for more than 21 years and have seen many fine police officers come and go in our department. There has always been a problem with officer retention in this tiny police force. The problems of management both from the chief's standpoint and the council's involvement have always plagued this department. We, as well as all the "no" voters, have high regards for our officers; however, we voted "yes" on their behalf. A small town like ours can never, without a large tax increase, give these fine employees the pay, benefits, retirement and chance for varied assignments and advancement they can receive elsewhere.

We now await the exodus of officers from our department. A contract with the Sheriff's Office would have been a win-win situation for our town and its employees. Nine of the 13 officers have shown their intentions in filing applications for employment with the sheriff. We, the taxpayers, would have given "our" officers a much better chance of a sound career in law enforcement by voting in the sheriff.

We have spoken to several officers and they are truly disappointed in the outcome of the referendum. Perhaps if the Town Council had held public hearings and allowed its employees to voice their opinions the outcome would have been different. We now can look forward to losing some officers and probably getting higher taxes in return.

As far as Kenneth City not being worth keeping without its Police Department is concerned, the town has remained even though it has given up its own water and sewer departments, building department, fire department and town judge. If anything, contracting out these services has made the town a better and safer place to live as well as kept taxes low.

Good luck to our police officers in their endeavors. We hope they meet their own personal goals.
-- Mr. and Mrs. Russ Koerner, Kenneth City

Smelling the roses -- er, jacaranda

One of the three best lines ever from the Times, in my estimation, was in an article written several years ago by correspondent Wilbur Landrey. It was a classic worth repeating: "All is well in the world, the jacaranda are in bloom in St. Petersburg." I thought of that line recently and stopped my car to admire some at Crescent Lake. We are blessed in our corner of the world to have so many in bloom at this time of the year.

It is St. Petersburg's equivalent to stopping to smell the roses. Thanks again, Wilbur.
-- Norman Bungard, St. Petersburg

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