Commissioners, we put faith in you
Kokomo Tribune | September 2, 2013 | kokomotribune.com
“I wish I had great faith.” These are the words almost every Christian has said at one time or another. But faith is like a muscle, which must be exercised in order to become strong; just wishing cannot make it happen.
Faith is what many here in eastern Howard County have been holding onto in recent months. We watch and wait for our elected officials to act upon the fundamental philosophy of the American constitutional form of representative government – a government that is, according to state law, “the servant of the people and not their master.”
Accordingly, it is public policy of the state that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and employees. Providing constituents with information is an essential function of a representative government.
One has to wonder if all this controversy at county commissioners’ meetings these past few months could have been avoided if our representative government had held a public hearing last year before it signed a contract with an industrial wind farm developer. What a great way to get the residents involved in the process and find out if “we the people” wanted a wind farm.
Or if we wanted the turbines to be set back farther than is now being proposed. Or if we wanted the allowable noise limits to follow certain recommended safe guidelines. Or if we even wanted industrial wind turbines to be placed here at all in our quiet, rural area, with its uniquely charming agricultural character.
I’ll hang onto my faith. I’ll strengthen it each morning and continue to attend these county commissioners’ meetings. I’m encouraged now, you see, because at the last meeting I heard a commissioner say he had concerns.
He stopped a motion to change that contract with the wind farm developer because it didn’t address all those concerns. He wanted to spend some more time on it and make sure it was representative of the people’s wants. He took a step out in faith. He was exercising that muscle that makes faith stronger in each of us.
It’s called “loving your neighbor as yourself.” Thanks, Commissioner Bray. Thanks for serving the people.
The next commissioners’ meeting is 4 p.m. Tuesday in room 338 of the administration building, 220 N. Main St. Come and represent yourself. Ask for safety guidelines to be followed before this contract gets approved. Ask for the contract to not be signed.
Whatever your view, share it. Have some faith and representation. Once the contract’s signed, it’s too late.
Grace Aprill
Greentown
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/09/02/commissioners-we-put-faith-in-you/