This is what came to mind when I read the story of the Long Pine, Nebraska Fire Department (http://www.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/nebraska-town-dismantles). Apparently, the mayor and city council decided to “dismantle” the fire department over some internal disputes between the mayor and the fire department. See a news piece here: http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/article_61573e48-1809-11df-9219-001cc4c03286.html.
I call it “arrogant”, because the action was taken by a small group elected to represent their residents.
Are we going to believe that the citizens WANT to be without a local fire department?
If they care about someone showing up at the time of their emergency, then they should NOT be happy at this turn of events in their community.
Citizens of Long Pine; throw out the elected officials who are behind this cavalier attitude towards your community’s safety. They are using YOU to prove a point and a very dangerous one at that.
In fact; have your police chief arrest them for aggravated stupidity!
I also call it “ignorant”, because once again, one city government wants their public safety problems solved at their neighboring community’s expense. Yeah; use their resources paid by their tax money for your emergencies. Call it “redistribution of wealth”.
It is also an ignorant notion because fire will grow for each minute that it takes Ainsworth to get there.
People should go to jail for putting the safety of their communities at risk.
When elected officials fail their oath of office by acts of their own neglect, then they should be arrested, charged, tried and convicted for it.
Go ahead and say it. Say, “But you won’t get anyone to run for public office if they can be arrested for making bad decisions”.
And I will say, “No; a bad decision would be to increase the sales tax because sales are down”.
Shutting down your fire department because a couple of city council members-including one that is ON the volunteer fire department and voted to dismantle it-has an axe to grind isn’t a bad decision; it’s a wrong decision and a very dangerous decision.
When government and its power are abused by the few who are elected, it no longer functions FOR the people.
And if you could go to jail for being arrogant and ignorant in matters of public safety, then new prisons would be popping up all over the nation.
This case in Long Pine is not an example of partisan politics, ladies and gentlemen. It’s elected officials abusing their privilege to serve their citizens. It’s elected officials serving their own self-interests at the expense of their citizens.
So, when they bring the process down to the personal level, replete with acts of revenge, then it is time for them to go.
You cannot justify a public body making private decisions on public safety without public comment and participation. It’s wrong AND illegal.
Is there more to the story?
There had better be.
TCSS.
The article is protected by federal copyright law under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella. It is written and submitted by Art Goodrich a.k.a. ChiefReason. This article or any other article submitted under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella cannot be reproduced in ANY form without the expressed, written permission of the author. Violations are punishable by applicable laws.
Please visit: www.fireemsblogs.com and my blog www.chiefreasonart.com.
Also on Chief Reason …
- The Errors of Arrogance – February 28, 2010
- Could We Have ‘Dunmore’? – May 25, 2010
- Ever-Changing is Always Confusing! – April 18, 2010
- Person of Convictions or Convicted Person? – May 10, 2010
A recent update to this situation is from the kbrbradio.com website:
* Long Pine City Council hires firm to investigate the Long Pine Foundation
(Posted Feb. 16)
The Long Pine City Council Tuesday, during its second special session in as many weeks, unanimously voted to retain a law firm to investigate the Long Pine Foundation’s handling of funds related to the Long Pine Palace and fire hall project.
The council agreed to pay a $2,500 retainer to the firm Jacobsen, Orr, Nelson, Lindstrom and Holbrook to research the Long Pine Foundation’s handling of funds, and will pay the firm an hourly rate of $175.
“We see discrepancies that need to be looked at,” Councilman Craig Bernbeck said.
Asked how hiring this law firm was different to a previous firm that researched the same issue, Bernbeck said the previous attorney did not find all of the foundation’s discrepancies.
Brenda Bernbeck with the city clerk’s office later told KBRB the city had spent $11,719 in legal fees to the previous firm, Sederstrom and Erickson, since 2008.
Resident Lynn Robertson read a statement imploring the City Council not to move forward with hiring a second law firm.
“I am very concerned about the fiscal integrity of the city of Long Pine,” Robertson told the council members. “Please act responsibly in upholding your office for the best interests of the city of Long Pine and vote against this special agenda item to spend yet another huge amount of taxpayer revenue on an issue that has already been explored exhaustively.”
Mayor Al Graves said there was no way to determine how much would be spent with the new law firm as it conducted its investigation.
Following the meeting, Long Pine Foundation President Linda Alberts said she had no idea what city officials were after.
“Every cent we have raised for the fire hall project is in an account in Omaha under the control of the Nebraska Community Foundation,” Alberts said. “I have no idea where they think this wrongdoing is coming from.”