Just in the Nick of Time

That is how I feel about leaving my job in Caldwell County. This entire week has been dominated by news that the Caldwell County Commissioners are going to vote February 16 to effectively destroy the Planning Dept. in the county and to severely limit the ability of the environmental health department to do their jobs.

These actions, if carried out will set progress back in Caldwell for many years. Who wants to build in a county that can't or won't enforce the rules on the books? I know I wouldn't. This is not a rational act and while it is within their authority, I hope something can happen to change their minds.

Even worse than this, is their efforts to roll-back wages of about 250 of the lowest and most under-paid workers in county government. These folks have been working for significantly less money than the average pay of workers in comparable jobs in other counties. This increase just brought them to a minimum and they are still near the bottom of the wage scale. These increases were long overdue and these actions seem punitive to me. There have been several options put forth to help avoid this action, but these have fallen on deaf ears. These include a general, across the board pay decrease to employees or other cuts in government services to help make up projected budget shortfalls. These have been largely ignored. It brings to mind a favorite quote that I have heard about the how frustrating it is to have a logical discussion with an illogical person.

Now is a time to work together, not to drive a wedge between good people, trying to do a good job. If these acts take place, I hope all county employees and their families remember "Who to Trust" in 2012, when these three come up for re-election. I am, afraid that by then, the damage will already be done.