Re: "Why progress is hard for this community" editorial Dec. 8

In a space of 7 miles

Here’s a further perspective. Four communities, or neighborhoods, that have a combined population of 3,378 (current Census), a distance of 7 miles or 15 minutes from the southernmost to the northernmost town. Today, as Scott states, 20 council members and 4 mayors for a population of less than 3,400 people.

Each town competes with the others, duplicating efforts for such things as grant dollars for various and important community needs and improvements. Fire protection, ambulance and police needs are contracts or agreements between the four. This creates daily gaps of coverage while fire and ambulance services are operated by volunteers.

General coordination between the four towns is nearly nonexistent. One of the four towns actually should be classified as a village, according to geographic experts. Elmer City even lacks some of the attributes that comprise what a village is. This area is a population enigma, one that many embrace, it would appear.

Bob Valen

Talking about this for 20 years, so let’s do it

Hard to believe it has been 20 years since a small group simply called “The pool people” met for I don’t remember how long to try to figure out a way to get the community pool repaired or replaced and reopened. This was open to everyone.

We put some hard work and serious effort into this endeavor. I won’t go into detail, but it was finally decided that the best route for funding would be to form a parks and recreation district, making the pool highest priority. That was put before the voters of all local communities. It passed; however, funding was never found.

I remember one night at a meeting in the interim someone brought up consolidation, and Scott said something like, it is not time, there are still too many older people set in their ways who don’t want it, so when the time comes, we better hope “we are not them.”

So, here 20 years later, OMG Scott, LOL, I hope we are not them. LET’S DO IT. It really just makes sense.

Carol Schoning