Letters and Comments for June 2, 2009

Letters and Comments for June 2, 2009

Joseph rate hikes necessary

To the Editor:

I suppose there are naysayers in Joseph who will complain about the increase in water and sewer rates. However, common sense tells us that it is important to raise these rates to help pay for the salary increases for city employees.

Our Joseph city employees work tirelessly seven hours a day without breaks. Our city council has finally set a new schedule to relieve the Public Works Department of the five-day work monotony and now they will be working four days a week this summer. Of course, on weekends when there are special events in town, these employees will be working overtime for three days rather than two.

In a small town the few city workers must work harder to keep up with the paperwork. I am sure that must be the reason the budget committee is proposing a 4.1 percent raise for most of the city employees and a 6.1 percent raise for the city recorder. Even though many people are taking a cut or a freeze in salary this year because of the financial problems the country is facing, these Joseph city employees need a raise.

Most Joseph residents are accepting these changes the present council is making. Only a handful go to city council meetings and check up on the decisions. And some check the city website to read minutes of the meetings: www.josephoregon.org. But, by and large, most of us are content to let these wise community members we have elected make decisions for us.

I know that raising water and sewer rates could be a hardship on young families, but most of us are retired and can afford it.

Evelyn Swart

Joseph