GLASGOW — Dear Editor,

My basic complaint is council members’ salaries and benefits. All, as far as I know, are business people or have other employment. Why should we as citizens of Glasgow pay health and dental insurance for part-time employees of Glasgow to the tune of $86,493.

We, the people of Glasgow, have no say in what the mayor or council are paid. A past council member told me when he served on the council he was paid $10 a meeting if he was there for the meeting. The mayor was paid $150 a month. How did the salaries get to where they are today? Did the mayor and council vote themselves these kind of raises and benefits? It looks to me like we have an Enron and A.I.G. going on in Glasgow. Why does the council decide how many should serve on council?

I am 80 years old and this is the first time I have attended a council meeting, and what en eye-opening it was.

On Oct. 12, the meeting lasted 20 minutes, and on Oct. 26, it lasted about 30 minutes. At the present rate of pay it costs us, the citizens of Glasgow, about $683.32 for each council member for less than 30 minutes work. Not bad for pay for a part-time job. What does it take to wake up the people of Glasgow who are paying the bills when a lot of full-time workers do not make this kind of money, if they had a job?

P.S. One council member said the money did not matter. If this is so and they are serving as public servants, why do they not donate their pay back to the city during these troubling times?

Charles Hawkins

Glasgow



Council size is fine as it is

Dear Editor,

I had been meaning to write a letter that was pro Glasgow City Council. With the recent discussion of reducing members and pay cuts I felt I should do so.

In the past few years, I’ve sought advice or help from three members.They easily could have told me they couldn’t help, or to call someone else. Instead, each went out of their way to be helpful. These members, I’m convinced, really are in it to serve and be an asset to the community. Just good people trying to do right by citizens. I wondered how many people in Glasgow don’t know we have representatives like these.

These members were among the eight who voted for keeping the current council size. That was the correct vote. As long as Glasgow has members with the character I mention, we are in good hands. Reducing the size of the council would reduce the chances of having their kind to serve. This would only hurt Glasgow. Just as two heads often are better than one, here 12 heads are better than seven. A more representative council, rather than less, should help guide the city into its future.

I understand that this is a “part time job,” and indeed, if all members do is to show up for a vote their current salaries and benefits are more than adequate. However, I’m sure those who assisted me are just as open to helping others. This takes time and effort on their part. They should be adequately compensated. Having city leaders like these is a priority.

Still, having council members who want to save the city money is admirable and always a quality to look for in candidates. The fact that our council is considering cutting its own pay also says a lot about doing right by the citizens. You certainly don’t hear that offer much in politics. As for me, I hope they keep their structure and the salaries they deserve.

Darrell Gilley

Glasgow



Buying Barren first helps us all

Dear Editor,

As a native of Glasgow and Barren County, I am writing to encourage others to support the Buy Barren First campaign recently announced by the Glasgow-Barren County Chamber of Commerce. We must keep our community the place where we shop, where we eat and where we have fun.

Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of Barren County and we want to keep those and all of our businesses alive.

Please “Buy Barren First.”

Ann Stewart

Glasgow



Thanks for support for mail center

Dear Editor,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our local city and county government for supporting our cause to stop outgoing mail from leaving the processing plant in Bowling Green to go to Nashville. I would also like to thank the area clubs and organizations for allowing our representatives to share this message during your meetings. We have received many messages of support from individual citizens of this area as well, who want to help stop the movement of their local outgoing mail to a processing facility in another state.

It is going to be a continual fight. We have just completed the first 30 days of the 60 day study to move the mail. There is still a lot of information to pass on to those who may not have heard where things could be headed and the impact it would have on them. You still have time to make a difference and we need your help. Our Web site, www.mymailmatters.com, is still available to voice concerns and send letters to your state and federal government representatives, as well as a contact for the U.S. Postal Service.

As someone who was born and raised here, I am proud that in times of difficulty, we can pull together to help each other. Glasgow, Bowling Green and the surrounding areas have endured stressful economic hardships before because they are such a close group with big goals and determination. We must continue to rally through the tough times to protect our plans for the future, not just in business, but our families’ future.

Again, many thanks from those of us that hope to continue serving you in the future. Help us keep the “service” local.

Meg Ballard

APWU Local 453

Secretary-Treasurer and Steward

Glasgow