Dear Editor:
It wasn’t until 4 years ago that I felt strongly enough about putting in my two cents. Why? Because I saw, for the first time, a strong chance of pulling Lima Township out of a dark era … putting the township in debt, wasteful spending putting the cart before the cart, self-serving actions, using the township like a “cash cow.”
Before Duane became supervisor, he was a trustee for 4 years. In the trustee position, he saw up close and personal all the dark ugliness going on. Being supervisor put him in a better position to change all that. That was his platform 4 years ago running for Lima Township Supervisor. He turned things around and then some.
I have observed Duane at the monthly board meetings continually knocking heads with some board members. Those board members don’t care about the taxpayers money. I had one of those members say to me …”It’s not my money. It’s the taxpayer’s money.” Shameful. Duane continually asks how much will things cost, wanting to get quotes before the board votes on anything … always remembering the board works for the taxpayers.
Right now, there is an issue that has been going on for almost 20 years. The Lima Township Hall. There is a group pushing for a new township hall that will DEFINITELY put the township in debt. In previous township board meetings (before Duane became Supervisor), I have observed the board wearing blinders pushing through the new hall spending money, putting the cart before the horse, all the while township residents in the audience objecting because a serious comparison cost was never done of renovating the existing historic hall with an addition.
Now, under Duane’s leadership, the renovation with an addition has been approved by the Board of Trustees and the Township Planning Commission. AND it WILL NOT put the township in debt.
Just like 4 years ago, I only deal with facts and not hearsay or speculation. Yesterday, I was made aware of the Supervisor’s Update on the Lima Township website regarding the renovation with an addition. The report lists in detail, what work will be done, the cost of the entire project, the amounts from different sources where the funds are coming from, etc. … AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, the township won’t go in debt.
Duane Luick needs to be re-elected, if for anything, to see this project completed. This issue has been going on far too long and needs to be put to rest once and for all. If any of the current board members are replaced due to the election, it could throw Lima Township back into a dark era again … going into debt, wasteful spending, self-serving actions again.
We need to keep the board as it is in place. And then a bonus … 4 more years of keeping Lima Township moving to an even brighter future.
One last thing. I have been a strong supporter and speaking out for Duane Luick because my father, Dwight E. Beach would have also … 1000% . Most people referred to him as “the General.” He drilled in me early on you spend only what you can afford (not going into debt) and respecting the taxpayer’s money. I had a lesson I’ll NEVER forget.
It was the mid 1960’s. I was 11 years old. “The General” received his 4th star taking command of the United States Forces Korea. At times, we had to fly to Washington DC always on a military transport plane. One trip they decided to fly straight across the Pacific Ocean needing to refuel on Midway Island…then a Naval Air Facility.
Midway Island is also home to the famous “gooney birds” … large albatross. Millions of them. When the gooney birds heard the planes landing or taking off, they would scatter only to return immediately and cover the landing strips. No fear.
As the refueling was going to take a while, we were allowed to disembark the plane. It was in the middle of the night and really dark. My mother’s aide, Sgt. Chung, was with me. We were amazed walking amongst these very large (wingspan of 6 feet) goofy birds. No fear of us. Then we were called back to the plane. The pilots taxied to the runway and powered up the engines for take off, And just as we were about to take off, my father ordered the pilots to power down and take us back to where we disembarked.
“The General” was VERY angry. He had discovered what Sgt. Chung and I had done. Wandering around where there weren’t many birds, we found a large nest on the ground. We thought it was abandoned and it had a single egg in it. A very large egg. We brought the egg on board the plane. While Sgt. Chung scrambled to take the egg back to the nest, I got a very strong lecture from “The General” about “wasting taxpayer’s money.” My father never forgot who he worked for … the taxpayers.
Vote Duane Luick for Supervisor for a second time and continue his good work. Everything I do is because “The General” is not here to do it.
Florence (Twinkie) Beach
Lima Township
P.S. In 1996, by executive order from President Clinton, Midway Island was transferred from the Navy to the Department of the Interior. It is now managed by the U.S. Wildlife Service. Happy gooney birds. And Midway Island had a pivotal role in the Pacific during WWII.
