Opinions are like belly buttons: Everyone has one, and most folks should not display them in public.
Leesburg is a nice little town full of human beings: the good, the bad and the ugly. I'm unsure what Rick Ellis was trying to accomplish with his letter. I see no good reason to write a letter that appears to publically berate four good people. If the purpose was to humiliate them, I think the tables were turned. What are the fine folks of Kosciusko County supposed to step in and do?
The board members are doing an excellent job of dealing with all that goes on here. It has been a tough year or two, and they have been poorly compensated. They are pleased with Ed's work. He is a kind and ethical man who does his job above and beyond his job description. I know that he checks on the elderly and sick. He can be found here in town at all hours of the night plowing our streets so that we can safely reach main roads. He does not make $40,000 per year. He offered to pay the $20 weekly in gas that he uses to take the truck home and back. He does not deserve the mean-spirited remarks that Rick made, nor does his family.
I did a little research, and Rick's figures were off by about $8,000. The town board knows nothing about someone else plowing the snow in Leesburg. The yellow paint at the curbs has been done by volunteers for the almost-30 years that I have lived here, and for many years before that. This year it was done by a church youth group that felt the need to help out because they've taken " ... love your neighbor as yourself" to the streets.
As for attendance at the meetings by "important company owners," like Rick, your letter shows the lack of attendance and awareness for the past few years. These are tough times for all of us. Let's try to help each other out and build each other up.
