To the editor:

Just a reminder the deadline is approaching for you to get registered to vote in the Nov. 2nd election. Many of you have toured the current police station and I have heard your opinion. As bad as the police department needs a new station it is even more vital to get the retirement plan that will keep the trained First Responders in our community once we have paid for their training.

I went on line to see who was running for re-election. The only opposition is in Ward 2. It is important to get registered so that you can make your choice. We still need to support our politicians who are working to make our community a better place for all. We have been moving in the right direction so let’s not take things for granted. There has been very little mention of the three additional questions on the ballot. I am sure that will change once the deadline to register is past. By then it will be too late to make your stand.

You will begin seeing ads in the newspaper, costing literally thousands of dollars, telling you why we can’t afford KP&F some 19 to 29 years down the road. They are telling us there is not enough economic development to support it. The thing that amazes me is that the two council members who are making this argument are the same two that are sitting on the Barton County Community Development Board. Why are they not working harder to get this changed? We have too many LLC’s buying blocks of the downtown business buildings and then sitting on them until they can get a grant from somewhere to do something with them.

Maybe the answer lies in reaching out to other areas to bring in businesses that will bring new job opportunities to the community. 

Now is the time that you can help to end the practice of wastefully spending money to train first responders for other communities.

You need to get registered so you can make your vote count. If you support your council member, whether they have opposition or not, then put a mark on the ballot to show your support. If you don’t support your council member, don’t put a mark in the box even if they have no opposition!

Please keep in mind one or two people can place an ad in the paper and claim to be a group of people voicing their support for the ad. A Public Forum letter must have the person’s name submitted in order to go to print. Don’t be fooled by this political gimmick. Your vote counts! Now it is up to you, if you want a voice in this coming election, get registered now. Registration deadline is Oct. 12th.

Thanks again for your time.

Marge Bieberle

Great Bend