Letters to the Editor do not reflect the opinions of The Reporter, its publisher or its staff. You can submit your own Letter to the Editor by email to News@ReadTheReporter.com.
Dear Editor:
Recently Sue Maki, a candidate for the Hamilton County Council, suggested the reason that the majority of the Council, including myself, voted against a proposal to establish a mega training center was my/our lack of concern for public safety.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
I want to believe Sue is using this type of below the belt “If you want to be a dragon slayer you need to have a dragon” campaigning was Sue getting bad advice from an uninformed friend. This untruth has been circulating since the Council voted against this six years ago. But I was a bit surprised that Sue Maki would take the hate bait without doing her own investigation to rise above today’s standard of mudslinging by using hearsay and half-truths.
Before I go further, I think it might be important for me to give a little of my background regarding public safety: My father was a decorated city firefighter. My entire life from the time I can remember till I was out of high school, I was in firehouses. Firefighters gave me haircuts, helped with my homework, taught me how to play sports, but more importantly, it taught me to respect all fire and police persons. Today my dad would be proud to know he has great-grandchildren serving as brave city firefighters as he did.
Because of the lack of communication, the training center was doomed from passage, from the beginning.
The cities were led to believe, without questions, the center would be provided to them with very little cost and that most all funding would be provided by the county. Keep in mind the county is the only one of these units of the government that has no fire department, yet the county going to be asked to pick up the tab. Of course, all the cities were in favor of this why wouldn’t they be? It was pretty much a gift.
The logic: The county has money. Shouldn’t there be wealth distribution? Don’t we all pay county tax? Yes, we do, and the council is obligated to the taxpayers to not obligate itself to an ongoing unknown financial burden. Moreover, we never saw any real plan of what would finally be built or what was the sustainability cost. Was the county now going to be financially responsible for a new huge department?
Long before this came to the council for a vote, and even after, I personally talked to mayors, state and local fire union officers, city councilors and many others who were supporting this. I told them I could not vote for this funding. I just could not see how this was a just and fair and realistic proposal. I know that Councilor McKinney, Councilor Beaver as well as Councilor Glynn shared their feelings with officials, too.
On the day the motion was to come before the council for a vote, we had a meeting with the Commissioners, the Council, the representatives from the fire union and other interested parties. During that meeting, I believe it was Councilor Beaver and Councilor McKinney who told those present they believed this proposal, in its present form, was not going to pass the council. They gave what I think, and most reasonable people would agree, was a major concession: ALL the major cities TOGETHER contribute one half of the proposed initial funding and the county would go the other one half of the requested amount. This to me was a major sign of good will and open dialogue. However, it was not accepted we were told no negotiating, the Council was told it’s all or nothing. Vote it up or vote it down.
That night after listing to much very heart felt discussion, and sincere public input it was voted down. To this day I wished this could have been different. I do not apologize for my vote, but it is my opinion much of this was politically motivated, and the bitterness could have been avoided.
During the weeks before it was pointed out that the fire tower in Lawrence which the county uses had been damaged and was out of commission. To show good faith and support to our firefighters Councilor Beaver along with Councilor McKinney suggested that we contribute $650,000 for a tower at our training center. The motion was made and passed.
I want to conclude by saying I very much enjoyed my time when I was privileged to be a part of the Chief’s round table. I also want to thank all our first responders for all you do.
I know my wife Cheryl would not be happy with me if did not thank the Carmel firefighters and EMTs. She was so grateful and impressed with the kindness, gentleness, strength and professionalism you showed as you helped her as she left our house for the last time Jan. 17.
Respectfully,
Paul W. Ayers
Hamilton County Councilor, 2011-18