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State of Fairfield County 2005

Message to the Community from a Senior Deputy

 

 
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for visiting this site. This opinion board is for you to inform us and the citizens of Fairfield County of information or thoughts that you have. If you leave a message to post you can be left confidential at your request. We have been informed that the Fairfield County Sheriffs Office union members will be doing an informational picket at 210 E. MAIN Street ,LANCASTER on 03/15/2005 starting at 730am. Everybody is welcome to stop by and show their support for them on the picket line.


                                                            FROM THE STAFF OF FAIRFIELD BLUE

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Hat's off to MR. Mike Kiger
    
     Sure is nice to see that County Commissioner Mike Kiger is working to
help the shortage by not taking the pay hike. This may be small, but to
someone who don't have a job because of actions taken, or NOT Taken by our
Commissioners could be the life of someone by not having a deputy when one
is needed!

     Who will watch over our kids while they play in the front yard while
the neighbor hood goes un-patrolled? Who will go and tell the parent or kids
that a loved one was just killed because of a speeder or drunk driver that
was free to drive without the fear of being stopped by a deputy on patrol
while protecting the people of Fairfield County. Who wants to watch over
your shoulder while buying a load of bread at the market to feed your family
knowing the robbery rate will be going up? After all, how will the bad guy
get the money to buy more drugs that he / she will be selling to the school
kids.  Who are the commissioners helping, the good guy or the Bad guy?
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I would just like to start this letter by saying that I have been a deputy with the Fairfield Co. Sheriff's Office for five years. During those five years I have seen my fellow co-workers deal with almost every imaginable hardship,  but never would I imagine that they would have to deal with their own personal safety being put into jeopardy because the commisioners will not give the money needed for them to perform their jobs safely. I have honestly never seen moral this low. As citizens you have to consider the fact that at a moments notice these men and women are willing to put their own safety and lives in jeopardy to protect any citizen at any time.  I along with you have known friends my whole life that would not do the same. Not to mention that these men and women do their job for barely enough to pay their own bills when you consider that most deputies make less than half than a county commisioner. I also want to address that the same people that are so willing to protect are now faced with the fact that when they need help their closest back-up may be 30 minutes away. I am not writing this letter to degrade the commisioners I am only asking that they give the Sheriff the funding needed to maintain the safety of the citizens of Fairfield County and to keep the men and women on the front line safe.

                                                              DEPUTY SHERIFF
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I believe we have picked the worst place to make cuts.

Warren Buskirk
Angry voter

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more homes in fairfeild county,mean more tax revune,were is it.?i didn't get off the boat yesterday.build new buildings, grow the goverment ,just don't ask me to pay for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you say there is a crisis, look simple, why not put people to work to pay taxes increase revune. example lancaster electro plating,give tax incentives for the employees to have bought it and keep it open.no we don't need to lay off law enforcement employees, to cut spending .maybe we need to vote people into office that can budget the money and look ahead to see were the future of fairfeild county to go, example road. they don't build there self !!!!!!!!!!!!
 
       signed  terry likens

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I have just read your Fairfield Blue site....I've also read the State of the County report.
I don't know if this idea is being used but it seems to me that since the cost to take care of prisoners is rising, why not start charging these low life individuals for their care..It's not the taxpayers responsibility to pay for people that don't know how to conduct themselves in a human manner..The individual. or their families of these individuals, need to start paying their fair share since they can't control themselves or the family did not bring them up to behave like normal people. I for one believe that todays prisoners are treated better then the law abiding citizen. If it were up to me they would all be transported to a island surounded by sharks, dumped off and told to fend for themselves....Why don't the law enforcement agencies get these people out on a chain gang and clean the highways? From what I understand Arizona makes their prisoners work on chain gangs and live in tent cities. We are way to easy on these social outcasts. Also while I'm on a roll why are the salaries of the "parttime" county commissioners higher then most of the people in Fairfield County that get up and go to work everyday. Personally I believethis countycould get by with a county manager and auditor that would keep the various county budgets under scrutiny so we don't get into the same mess that Demastry caused, and for that matter the County Commissioners should be sitting in the same cell with him since they did not oversee the spending that was going on.
Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings......

Bruce Raybourne
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First, I would like to applaud the deputies for the wonderful job they have done by keeping out community safe so that we can enjoy our everyday family life. We are able to sleep well at night not worrying about our safety.  It is a shame that our deputies and their families do not have that same luxury.  They not only need to worry about their safety, while on duty, but if the next cut will be their job.  Commissioner’s shame on you!  I bet you don’t layawake at night worrying about your safety or if you will have a paycheck next week.  I am glad to see that the sheriff is finally backing his deputies.  I believe that if he would have stood up to the commissioners and backed his deputies a year ago the Sheriff’s Department would not be in this crisis.  But since it is, come on commissioners put the community’s safety first!!!!

A Fairfield County Citizen and Registered Voter

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HELLO, THIS IS EARL WAS CHECKING ON ANY UP TODATE NEWS CONCERNING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE  POOR MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS WITHIN HIS PICKING OF WHO TO LAY OFF NEXT.  WILL BE MOST GLAD TO HEAR ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO SAY. TRULY YOUR'S EARL


                              Glad to hear from you Earl check back soon.
                                            STAFF OF FAIRFIELD BLUE

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 I am an employee with Fairfield County and am aware that these “out of area” BUDGET RETREATS have taken place since around 1995. Before the Jon and Mike. Even then there was concern of the long-term results if  “belt tightening” did not occur. We then as in more recent years created “Hot Zones” to look at the need for a fast growing county and how to meet those needs. This included increase in personnel and benefits to our employees as well as infrastructure, and growth in all department areas because of the growing climate within the county. One-time expenditures were created and a “real budget” was mandated. In these one-time expenditures some departments included new employees.  Now, I ask how can an employee be a one-time expense?

Comments implying that 2005 was an unknown deficit at the budget retreat in 2004 is absurd and lacks the “proactive leadership” that was needed in the early 2000’s when the CPA for the County Commissioners discussed all of the shortfalls and every elected official and department head as well as key personnel encouraged the commissioners to enact the conveyance fee and look at placing bond issues on the ballot for the safety forces, engineer, building and maintenance of the facilities and infrastructures to support a growing community.  Mr. Myers was a guest at the 2000 budget retreat and knows, or should know all of this. Mrs. Shupe has been a party to the budget retreats since it’s birthing and also is aware of the charts and graphs shared at those retreats.

Over the years there have been many committees created to look at and make recommendations to the commissioners regarding the consensus of the budget retreats, and in each even year the same decision was made.  “It is our election year. Let’s wait.” Now, we are in deep financial trouble and our citizens had no clue how serious the situation was when they had the opportunity to remedy that deficit a little in February.  I ask you WHO KEPT IT FROM THE CITIZENS? WHO DECIDED TO MAKE THE DECISION NOT TO REMEDY THE REVENUE? WHO IS NOW POINTING FINGERS AT ALL OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAD GIVEN THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A STAND AND MAKE HARD DECISIONS REGARDING THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTY?

It is too bad we have reached this level.  Fairfield County is the Heart of Ohio. A beautiful area to live and raise a family, and our Commissioners are concerned with the next election, so they will always have a job and receive the mandated salary based on the census set by our State Representatives and State Senators.  But let us be fair. There are tough decisions to be made, and tough decisions certainly do not make friends. Since we have a bedroom community atmosphere, there are few areas to collect the revenue to take care of business.  We as tax payers do not want our taxes raised in a way that would hinder our abilities to enjoy our lives, yet; we also know that to maintain quality government, we need to pay for quality government.  This could mean conveyance fee increases on the sale of our homes. Impact fees on new builds. Sales tax increases. Bond Issues for Safety and other areas of government, and even Income Tax increases to ease the burden from our aging parents.

Many items such as those mentioned have been discussed over the years, to no avail. Time is short. ACT NOW, Jon, Judy and Mike. Thank you.

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This evening I have spent many hours looking over many Fairfield County Websites and this one, as well as looking over the one that holds homeland security info for Fairfield County. When I came to this page of the website I became infuriated. This is why:


RE: From the site link Concerned Fairfield County Realtors
                                          (Comments from Jon Myers)

"Today I received phone calls from concerned Fairfield County Realtors.  They told me that during a meeting with the Board of Realtors, Jon Myers interrupted Mike Kiger and informed the gallery that he spoke to several deputies that were outside picketing and that we don't care about our fellow laid off employees, but that we only care about ourselves. "

"The only statement that he could twist into this lie was when he asked if the deputies received raises this year and they told him that they had, but that they were not going to receive any raises next year unless this situation was resolved. "

I have a question I would like to ask Mr. Myers. Exactly what does Fairfield County Pay you per year? And is it appropriate per type of work that you do comparatively to those of these deputies that place their life on the line each day, every hour that they are at work. I doubt that you could even get by on what these men and women earn per year

I just returned to the website and I now see what you are paid per year. Did you get a raise this year?

And to make a comment that these deputies only care about themselves. Let me tell you if they only cared about themselves they would not be in the line of work that they are. It takes one hell of a special person to do the job they do. I too have public safety work experience and although not law enforcement (I applaud and respect those that do that job but I wouldn't do it myself) I have had the privilege to sometimes work alongside these men and women  during my career,so I do have up close knowledge of some (and not nearly all)  of what they have to deal with and personally I couldn't  do it.  These deputies have provided me with protection from time to time on emergency scenes,so I could do my job .

Let me ask you this Mr. Myers, when you (and I hope it never happens for you or anyone) need to make that 911 call whether for you, your family and loved ones or to protect your self or property do you want to be told you will have to "wait" simply because they are understaffed because you will not allow the FCSO the funding it needs?

EMS personnel need to take a hard look at this as well. What about your patient who is in desperate need of your care, however the scene is not secure and you have to wait, and wait, and wait, because the jobs are cut and they do not have enough personnel to secure a dangerous scene before you can go in. AND what about the person who is the victim of a crime and the emergency medical personnel cannot go into an unsecure crime scene and time has passed by, thos crucial minutes that could make a difference in the outcome of the person who was a victim

Let me ask you Mr. Myers and other county commissioners who is to carry the guilt about that?

This doesn't only affect your budgets. It affects Lives. And it affects many lives in many different ways.

How can you explain just one loss of life because you would not appropriate the money needed.

Or do YOU not care about others as in the community, only about your budget, much like the comment you made that the deputies only care about themselves. It infuriates me that you would make a comment that they "only care about themselves " but again that is coming from someone who knows nothing about the camaraderie that exists in that type of work.

You should be thanking these deputies for the job that they do, not demeaning them. Everyone is entitled to make a living and they didn't sign up as volunteers, so paid they should be and well paid for what they do.

The rest of this applies to all responsible for the funding cuts.

You want to see the county grow, and it is, and it will even more so with the new bypass, but with community growth comes good and then there are also the "bads" that come in to see just what it is like and what havoc they can create. And you know it WILL happen unless you do something to "prevent " it. Or by having appropriate law enforcement protection educating them that it will not be tolerated here.

That's right I used that word the big "prevent-ion " word. Isn't it much smarter to prevent things from happening? Isn't that much better planning?

Do we want the children of the community to become prey, our elderly mothers, fathers, grandparents, and neighbors to be targets?

You want this county to grow? Do you not think that merchants will be looking at crime rate? Do you think they will stay if in fact the law enforcement officers are unable to provide protection due to the fact that the county commissioners would not provide funding enough?

Is it fair of you to ask these deputies to put themselves in a very precarious and dangerous situation with some crimes because they cannot get help or "backup" in time? Or is your solution to place untrained inexperienced personnel in positions they should not be in. Either would be a no win situation. What about the families of these deputies?

Do you not think that this situation will be taken advantage of? Maybe the commissioners should have to be the one to make that dreaded house call and tell the family that their loved one has been the victim of a crime that could possibly have been prevented. Maybe they should have to be the ones to explain to the family of a victim of a crime " the county just doesn't have the money to put them in jail" Justice?

I for one think it is very irresponsible for their funding to be cut

Come out of your offices and take a look around you, because if you don't allow the funding they need you may not be able to walk out of your office in the same safe environment that we currently enjoy and more often than not take for granted.

If you think " it won't happen here" think again, some of the crimes that were unheard of 10 years ago are becoming more prevalent here. It will happen unless you do your part and keep this county safer than most. Anyone that reads this and doesn't believe it go to the Sheriff Department website and read.and read.

Times have changed, we do live in a different era and isn't protection safety and prevention a vital element of security and safety?

And never decide for yourself what an "on the street" public safety person may feel if you have never been there yourself.

And for all who have complained about how long it currently takes to get a deputy to your situation, why do you think that is, is it because we already had an abundence of law enforcement officers? What do you think the layoffs will do to that situation?

Melodie McCrady

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WHEN WE ,THE VOTING PUBLIC IN TALKING ABOUT OUR CONCERNS OF WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS ARE AND ARE NOT DOING FOR THE BETTER MEANT OF GIVING THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT THE MONEY TO OPERATE HIS OFFICE, MIKE KIGER (D) AS YOU ALL KNOW, IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE THREE COMMISSIONERS THAT REFUSED HIS PAY RAISE. MYERS & SHUPE  BOTH (R) DIDN'T BLINK AN EYE AND HELD THEIR HAND OUT TO MOVE THEM UP FROM 59.51 TO 60.93. SURE ONE WOULD SAY THAT ISN'T VERY MUCH TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT HERE'S MY POINT, WHILE YOUR LOSING YOUR JOBS BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE OF HAVING ENOUGH MONEY THE  GENERAL FUND, IT SEEMS THOSE TWO , ( MYERS & SHUPE ) WOULD WANT TO SHOW ALL OF THE STAFF BEING LAID OFF THEY WOULD FOLLOW THE SAME CHOICE THAT MIKE KIGER COMMITTED TO. LET ME SAY THIS, IN OUR OPINION PAGES WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE COMMISSIONERS OF OUR COUNTY, BE MORE DIRECT IN IN WHICH COMMISSIONERS WE'RE ADDRESSING TO OUR COMMENTS. BELIEVE IT WHEN I TELL ALL OF YOU REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICS, MIKE KIGER IS WORKING FOR THE VERY SAME PEOPLE THAT PUT HIM OFFICE. THE VOTING PUBLIC NEEDS TO WAKE UP ON WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION TIME AND LOOK TO SEE IF YOUR BETTER OFF SINCE YOU VOTED THE LAST TIME , OR SHOULD YOU RE-THINK ON HOW YOU VOTE THE NEXT TIME AROUND. THE CITY OF LANCASTER & FAIRFIELD COUNTY PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE BACK OUR CITY & COUNTY & THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS STATEMENT, EACH AND EVERYONE OF USE HAVE THAT POWER, HOW? WE ARE THE ONES THAT PUT THOSE PEOPLE IN OFFICE , AND WE AS THE VOTING TAXPAYERS CAN GIVE THEM A TASTE OF NOT HAVING A PAY CHECK TO TAKE HOME. WE NEED A MORE BALANCED CITY & COUNTY GOVERNING LEADERSHIP THAT'S WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF SEEING HOW WELL THEY CAN FILL THEIR POCKETS WITH OUR MONEY. IN CLOSING I'LL SAY THIS, SHERIFF PHALEN , SHOULD VISIT THE MAYOR OF LANCASTER'S OFFICE MORE OFTEN TO SEE HOW THE CITY IS ABLE TO GET THE FEDERAL GRANTS IN THE MILLION'S BY JUST DOING THE MESSIER PAPER WORK.  A DEMOCRAT VOTER THAT VOTES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE. 

EARL STANDIFORD, LANCASTER, OH.
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I am equally frustrated by the apparent lack of logic the Commissioners have displayed in recent years in dealing with what obviously has been an ever growing financial crisis.

That being said, I am infuriated that in spite of the present financial crisis, and budget cuts throughout the County departments, the Commissioners have recently told the County Economic Development Director David Zak that he could add a county staff person to the County's payroll by hiring an assistant. In order to find enough work for this assistant, work load is being shifted from another County agency/department to justify this new position.

This little known piece of trivia comes directly from Mr. Zak and a Commissioner.

It's illogical enough that they are shifting work load from one county office to another simply to justify adding a new county position, but, doing it in spite of all the layoffs occurring around the county is unconscionable.
Today we have one County economic development position (Mr. Zak), 1.3 positions at the County Extension office, 1 position in the City of Lancaster, 1 position in Pickerington, and 1 in Canal Winchester which encompasses only a portion of Fairfield County. By adding yet another position within the County - the proposed new assistant to the County Economic Development Director - the Commissioners will in effect be supporting at tax payer expense more than a whopping 20% increase in economic development staff working within this county  - while we are cutting jobs in EVERY OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENT!
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