Hesitations on fire district’s mill levy

It’s impressive to see Craig Rural Fire Protection District working on an informative, open-door campaign with meetings and ads featuring prominent community members. I was initially opposed to a third request for a mill levy increase, but the presentation has softened my opinion somewhat.

My hesitations on 4A are:

1. Is it ethical to have a member sit on the fire board whose personal income is directly related to expenditures of the fire department? I understand the department’s volunteers may not sit on the board, but what about someone from a business that provides the department with most of its equipment?

2. Is there a check-and-balance system in place that will assure taxpayers the proposed property and capitol improvements will take place within the 10-year time frame? Bad decisions and broken promises haunt this department’s past — that’s what prompts these questions and keeps my pencil hovering over the “no” box.

Public officials should remain unbiased

It is refreshing to have the Moffat County commissioners, as a whole, withhold support of upcoming ballot issues. I don’t think it’s appropriate for our elected representatives to take a stand under their titles of office. I think it’s more appropriate for those representatives to try to educate the public about the pros and cons of an issue, if necessary and relevant to their office. I applaud the Board of County Commissioners for acting responsibly. People running for office or coordinating ballot issues need to educate us about the issue themselves, instead of relying on a list of our elected representatives to gain our support.

Daily Press right to publish board’s names

I would like to thank the Craig Daily Press for listing members of the editorial board. It, hopefully, reminds readers that the opinion they are reading is not to be taken as that of the newspaper. The paper should remain a level playing field for both sides of an issue and should not use itself to endorse one candidate over another.

Editor’s note: The Craig Daily Press does indeed take a stance on many issues facing the community. It does not endorse candidates, however. The editorial board is meant to be representative of the community and to provide background and insight into community issues.