TO THE EDITOR

Many Lincoln County citizens attended the last commissioner's meeting, it was standing room only.

The speakers on the agenda spoke on several issues, some of them should have shown more respect to Chairman Johnson and followed the policies and procedures required to speak at a commissioners meeting. When you speak, all questions are to be addressed to the chairman, some of the speakers did not follow this procedure.

Another issue and concern was the numerous speakers who spoke on Ernie Doss' performance and professionalism given to the county departments and citizens of Lincoln County. This was a great recognition for his outstanding job performance and duties that are a part of his job. All the county employees should follow his job performance and offer the same courtesy and professionalism. The concern of the meeting was not Mr. Doss' job performance, it was the E911 change back to the sheriff's department. All discussions should have been directed to this issue.

The commissioners made the decision to move the E911 back to the sheriff's department. I don't know the reason for the change, there must have been a concern to change it back. The sheriff is the law enforcement license holder with the state of Georgia and responsible for all the reporting to the GCIC (Georgia Crime Information Center), this is his legal obligation as our sheriff to make sure all crimes, arrests, incidents, information, records, etc., are reported properly.

Our county commissioners know Georgia and the United States is in a negative economic financial stage. The commissioners have made numerous changes to the financial stage of Lincoln County. All of these changes are not edged in stone, they are simple ways to save money for the county until the year end budget arrives June 30th.

The previous commissioners should have been more considerate of the excessive spending the last two months of 2008 (after the election loss), and shown a little more courtesy and respect to the new chairman and commissioners by not spending so much of the county's budget, leaving them a very minimum amount to run the county. This statement is based on the road paving at the gymnasium center (named in honor of Walker T. Norman), it was money spent at a time when the county commissioners interest should have been the number one priority of keeping the budget from going into a negative figure and allowing the county to operate until June 30th year end budget. The new chairman and commissioners are having to make some changes to the budget to stay within guidelines.

This is my opinion, I am a citizen of Lincoln County, it's freedom of speech, part of the United States Constitution. If you have an opinion, write it to the editor and have it published, if you don't speak out, then quit complaining!

The taxes we pay are county and school taxes, if they are lowered by the county, why cannot the school board lower them? At least they can wait on building the new school until economy is back in a stable financial state. Many citizens are having to struggle during this time of need, keep praying the economy will improve soon.

Chairman Wade Johnson has donated some of his salary back to help the county. Maybe others can do the same if able. Any way that you may be able to help out our county would be greatly appreciated, several areas need volunteers.

Let's make Lincoln County a better place to live.

JAMIE WILLIAMS