To the Editor:
I had written a letter to the editor in regards to the cleanup job Steve Elder and Billy Dallas did on the “nuisance” property at 512 Hilltop Road, Leitchfield. Mr. Elder has blown my words completely out of proportion. I did not question his parenting in any way. He must have felt condemned by the fact he was out working on the lovely day instead of spending time with his children.
I do not have Facebook on my computer, but I have been told there a lot of negative things being said about my letter and me personally. If you feel you must defend his parenting and his family, just go ahead; I am not guilty of what you are saying about me. I have a right to my opinion and to have it printed. If the newspaper wishes to not print my letters , then so be it. If you don’t want to read my letters, then don’t read them. I am sure there are some who enjoy my views being shared with them.
I stand by my comments about the reason for the “cleanup” being done. It was only a ploy to garner votes. From the number of signs Mr. Elder has all over town, he must be really scared his council seat might be warmed by another body in January. That was a City of Leitchfield job to be done by the city workers. The city council has rammed so many unpopular things down the citizens throats in the last two years, now they will have to pay the price for their actions.
Where were their efforts to be a good neighbor and do this clean up when Clayton Miller presented it to the mayor and council in June 2010? It was not important enough then to do anything to help the people who live in that area. I have heard there are snakes galore living and breeding in the undergrowth and other filthy vermin also living inside and outside that house. What if one of these men had been bitten by a snake, or a rat, while they were doing this community service? Would there be workers’ compensation to cover them?
My interest in the Old Brandenburg “high crossing” being closed is because there has not been a study or anything planned for the future. The impact it is going to have on the traffic flow is going to be horrendous. City officials do not have a plan to make it flow as it should. There will be wrecks and possibly someone may in time to come lose his or her life because of the lack of planning. If the council had made the decision after a well-thought-out plan was developed that would be another thing. Time will tell who is right!
If you think I am concerned about not getting on the ballot in November, you are quite mistaken. I am content with attending council meetings and writing my letters to the editor. Oh, by the way, I don’t see any of these who are making all these negative statements about me at the city council meetings. I guess they are just too busy to be bothered with something that has to do with the future of our city. As for me I will always “Have a heart for the City!” Do you?
Ann Huff
Leitchfield
As far as the nuisance property goes, there could have been other reasons why nothing was done about in 2010. In June 2010 when Clayton Miller brought this up and nothing happened, did you think to yourself - "Oh I see, they are going to wait til they need votes for the election." Did you, yourself, help push for something to do be done about this back in 2010? It is a legitmate question as I was not living in Kentucky at the time nor regularly read the online edition of Gazette back then.
It could also be because there is now a Facebook page for the property which could be negative publicity for a city trying to attract tourists.
The rest of the most recent letter devolves into 'What Ifs.' What if Elder or Dallas had been bitten by a rat or snake while doing clean-up? What's the damn difference - it COULD happen to anyone. And what if there is accident and what if someone dies because the Brandenburg tracks are closed?
I was going to propose a 'What If' the last time I commented but, wanted to avoid rampant speculation and exaggeration. I suppose now is a good of a time as any though. What if someone was going over the tracks, time of day would not matter, and a child was playing up near them? When you go over the crossing you are staring at at the sky and your view is heavily impaired - I've gone over the crossing recently just to show my husband how terrible it is. If there happened to be children playing right there, it would be unlikely that a driver could see them before it was too late.
Maybe I'm naive but I don't see the issue or how traffic will be snarled - but then again I don't have eyes on that section of the city at all times. When I do pass by that area, I always see people coming out on the north side onto 259 and I never see anyone coming out on the south end. Looking at a map now I see there are alternative exits that lead out to Lilac Rd and Sunbeam Rd. Yes they are not as convenient as getting right on 259, a major vein through Leitchfield, but the options are still there.
I would challenge you to think of an idea that would both satisfy the desire to close the crossing and the apparent need for another exit. You scoff at the city officials and how their days are numbered, yet you keep expecting them to come up with some kind of plan. Any decent politician (if they exist), regardless of party lines, should be willing to compromise to satisfy the public.
I'll end this on a light hearted note - maybe more people should complain about things needing done during election season so these politicians will bend over backwards to be re-elected. Then the 'manipulation' can work both ways.