To the Editor,

In my last letter to the editor published in November 2012, I challenged Commissioner Raymond Cummings to show some leadership and initiate the fiscal reforms the citizens demand.

It is obvious that the report fell on deaf ears. My assumptions were correct that the commissioners cannot lead on this issue.

Citizens, Mr. Cummings’ strategy, with the other commissioners supporting, is to ignore the issue and hope it goes away. Hope is not a viable course of action.

Citizens, you have the power to bring about fiscal reform. Are you satisfied with the commissioners’ performance? Are you satisfied with the performance, delivery, and quality of county services and programs? I am not.

As an example, I paid the county $75 to test my well water. After two months of waiting, I went to the Health Department demanding the results. Of the three tests ordered, two were complete. The other was lost with a promise to come out and re-test, which has not occurred. The Health Department failed to communicate results, failed to order the third test, and thus far, failed to re-test. I paid $75, full price for the three tests. To date, the services remain incomplete. I have also had some issues with the Tax Department as well.

Citizens, have you had these same experiences? Are you getting your tax dollars’ worth from our county commissioners and county government? My experiences thus far are leading me to believe that county government is following the lead of the county commissioners. Speak out in this forum if you share my opinion. I may be wrong about county government but I am not about the commissioners.

If you share my concerns, Citizens for Integrity in Government respectfully requests you attend the commissioners meeting on Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. in a show of support for fiscal reform and accountability of government.

We need to remind the commissioners and those who work in county government that they are servants of the citizens they serve and represent. It is the citizens’ tax dollars, working people, that fund the commissioners and county covernment.

Join us in showing the county commissioners that the citizens are the boss and we hold the purse strings.

Lynn E. Locklear

Citizens for Integrity in Government