Letters to the Web Editor

Barry Barnett · Joined: 06 May 2008 08:42 am Posts: 3

Mike, while I appreciate and respect your feelings regarding the ESD, I think you are missing some necessary facts that had you known, you would have a totally different opinion about the ESD.

First of all, there is not going to be an increase in the taxes regarding the ESD. There is no need in it. Also, there is an S.O.P. written by lawmakers in Austin that governs ESD's and strictly regulates the power that the county commisioners court have over ESD's. If you wish, I will email you a copy of it. You will find it most informative as have quite a few residents of Smith County who have read it. You will see after reading it that the fire chiefs and their boards of directors are actually doing a tremendous job in budgeting the funds supplied by the ESD and making sure that all funds are used in the most economical manner.

Second, donations and fundraisers to generate the necessary capital to fund and operate the fire departments in Smith County have dried up rapidly. It takes money to operate a fire department. What alot of folks in Smith County do not know is that the departments have used grants provided by the federal govt. and State of Texas to purchase new equipment. This is money that the ESD will not have to provide and thus in the end, save the taxpayers of Smith County, millions of dollars.

Third, I would invite you to go down to your local fire dept. and visit with the chief or other personnel and get the real facts about what is taking place in your local department and I assure you, that after leaving there, you will have a whole new view on your department and Emergency Services District #2.

Fourth, go talk to the property owners and accident victims and ask them how they feel about the quick responses they were not getting with just straight volunteer firemen and how they are now getting those quick responses with paid firemen who now actually work at the fire station.

Finally, after doing this, please come back and report what you found out to the readers.

Thanks.

Barry Barnett
Arp, TX

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