What are they thinking?

Monday, Jan. 13, was the first Dickinson County Board of Commissioners meeting with the newly elected members. It was an eye-opening experience, to say the least. At the first citizens time, nine community members spoke about the merits of the 4-H programs. The 4-H Proud Equestrian Program, or PEP, is a therapeutic horseback riding program for adults and children with disabilities. Program leaders, parents of children in the program and one very brave autistic young man spoke about the wonderful things the program has done for them and for our community.

The funding for the Michigan State University Extension full-time 4-H coordinator, in the amount of $81,000, was voted down.

Only Mr. Joe Stevens voted to approve this funding. He explained to the members of the board before the vote was taken that the previous board had allotted that money in this year’s budget. He also said that there was close to $130,000 available to the board from the tax money from the sale of marijuana. These funds could be used and therefore nothing would need to be taken out of the general fund. Even that alternative fell on deaf ears.

What agenda do these new members have for the citizens of Dickinson County if they cut out 4-H?

I hope by the next meeting Mr. Dan Harrington, the chairperson, will have read Robert’s Rules of Order and will learn that during citizen time only the citizen speaks and no one from the board can ask them any questions to clarify their position. That time is meant to be a monologue, not a dialogue.

It is imperative that citizens attend these meetings to see firsthand just what this new board’s agenda is, because it’s obvious that not serving the youth of our county is top of their list.