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Stew Lilker’s

Columbia County Observer

Real news for working families.

Letters to the editor & Op Ed

Gangster Government

Columbia County, FL (Posted August 5, 2010  03:55 am)

By Ever Vigilant

In Columbia County we see a microcosm of this cancer... Closed meetings, lack of transparency, the imposition of mandatory water hookup, character assassination, back door deals and the Good Old Boys that have thumbed their noses at the voters of Columbia County for the past 50 years are causing people, who have never been involved in politics, to cry out for change. (click title to read more)

Sounds like Lake City has fishy deal

Columbia County, FL (Posted July 26, 2010  04:00 am)

By Ron Buchner

In the tough economic times, you would think the City of Lake City would at least attempt to make their large purchases in the local area... This is one time the city should take lessons from the county.

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We adhere to the highest ethical standards

City Manager Wendell Johnson

I appreciate your concerns and it amazes me how citizens will take the "word on the street" and run with it...

Terry RauchJust use your "Common Sense"

Columbia County, FL (Posted July 18, 2010  06:30 am)

By Terry Rauch

Florida has very large problems. Our taxes are too high, people are unemployed, property values are in the tank. What has Tallahassee done for these problems? Not a thing.

The answer is very simple: Shrink the government, deregulate and lower taxes. In other words, "use common sense."

Pastor moving in the right direction

Columbia County, FL (Posted July 18, 2010 • at 05:30 am)

Dear Mr. Lilker:

I grew up in what you term “The Hood”, and I am a member of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. The latest initiative by my pastor and others is a step in the right direction. Despite all of the unanswered questions, it is a positive step. More than what has been done in the past...

Sincerely,

Patricia A. Perry

Government Out of Control

Columbia County, FL (Posted April 9, 2010 • at 03:55 pm)

By Ever Vigilant

The behavior of the Columbia County Board of County Commissioners and their zany antics has been documented repeatedly... While Florida's Sunshine Laws demand transparency in government, the clarity of sunshine has yet to penetrate the opaque smoke screen that surrounds the workings of Columbia County government... The Columbia County legacy and legend is spreading like a field fire: failure to respond to ...

Who’s Buried in the History Books?

March 16, 2010 11:55 pm - from the NY Times - orig pub date March 13, 2010

SEAN WILENTZ

Princeton, N.J.

RONALD REAGAN deserves posterity’s honor, But the proposal to substitute his image for that of Ulysses S. Grant on the $50 bill is a travesty that would dishonor the nation’s bedrock principles of union freedom and equality — and damage its historical identity.

Energize with Nuclear Power

Columbia County, FL (posted March 16, 2010 11:55pm)

Oil is a diminishing and expensive source of energy, and coal is dirty.

Alternative energy sources, including solar and wind power, can only provide 10% to 20% of our energy requirements.

By Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

Florida Crown Workforce Board -- To good to leave

Published March 12, 2009

OP-ED CONTRIBUTER
 Jessica Catherwood Natale

The County Commission has decided to withdraw Columbia County from the interlocal agreement with Florida Crown Workforce Board (FCWB) in favor of joining with Region 9 Alachua/Bradford. 

This is really perplexing considering their excellent record of performance.  

George Skinner, former Columbia CountySkinner_2_2008 Commissioner, weighs in on the Florida Crown controversy.

Published March 16, 2009

The Columbia County Board of County Commissioner’s recently moved to sever ties with the Florida Crown Workforce Board (FCWB). This was the wrong thing to do. Two of the reasons the Board cited were an unwillingness to recognize the role of the Consortium and a lack of communication with the BOCC.  This is completely false and inaccurate.

Lake Shore Hospital Authority

February 22, 2009

Can anyone please explain for me why the people of Columbia County are exclusively responsible for the funding of a regional asset--to wit the Lake Shore Hospital Authority and its Shands hospital?

I don't care if you own a home or property or are just renting, you are paying directly or indirectly a significant annual tax to fund and support this Authority if that property is in Columbia County.  If your property is in Suwannee, Hamilton, Baker, Union or Alachua County you have this great resource available to you thanks exclusively to the tax dollars of the Columbia County property tax payers.

Why are we allowing this inequity to happen?  Why is the Lake City Reporter allowing this tax-eating kingdom-building monster to fester and grow in relative obscurity?  I guarantee it is going to get bigger and hungrier.

Robert C. Long
Lake City, FL