Fred Barkes Responds to Article on Columbuzz

Responses from Fred Barkes on Bob Freeman's article "Why Vote for Me for Trustee?" posted on columbuzz on October 13, 2010.  Fred Barkes' responses are in bold:

Maintenance building on Mapleton St.

In my opinion, it should never have been purchased. The money used to buy it was intended for poor relief.  So the township poor suffered so the trustee could have the oil changed in the fire trucks!  I believe that the building should be sold and the trucks serviced where they are stationed. I also believe that the fund from which the monies were used to purchase the building should be reimbursed from the proceeds of that sale.

The building purchase was approved by the Board for several uses. 

1. Maintenance of fire equipment (over 2.3 million dollars if replaced with new) that were not being maintained adequately by volunteers 
2. A secure place to house tools and equipment needed in the repair of trucks and equipment 
3. Office space, wired for communications network, to replace current office in case of disaster

Poor relief and financial assistance

I plan to explore as many new ideas for ways to help people as possible.  For instance, the lady I mentioned earlier that asks if the Trustee has a program to buy batteries for people with wheelchairs. We need to see if we can implement one.

If a person needs batteries and cannot afford to cover the cost the Township would access their needs.

When people are out of work and are willing and able to work, we need to use them when possible to do some of that work; mowing for instance.  We now pay $12,000 a year to have the cemeteries mowed. And from what I’ve seen, they seem to do a good job.  But why can’t we use people that need the work? Any other work that the office needs done and they are capable of should be offered as well.

There are liability and work comp. insurance issues here. You could almost guarantee that most of those able to work would fake injuries. Sources for work fair have dried up for the same reason.  Also, who would buy the mowing equipment and where would it be stored.  If the maintenance building were to be sold the township would own no place to store said equipment.

I believe we need to keep working closely with churches and other agencies in all areas of support. Food pantries, thrift stores, meal sites, etc… We can do so much more when we work together.  I believe we need to make better use of sleeping rooms as opposed to motel rooms when we do need to put somebody up. The bill for a couple of nights in a motel room will pay for a week in a sleeping room.

The Township maintains two sleeping rooms on a monthly basis for just that reason.

Payment to clients and vendors should be timely. I plan to see how that process can be made quicker.

The Township currently pays two times a week (Tuesdays and Fridays) and has been doing so since 2005 while in 2003 it was paying every two months and 2004 every week. This action was taken to assist the clients with late fees. The only exceptions are when a holiday falls on a Friday or the office manager is out of town on a Tuesday.

Fire Department

We have a great fire department. That must continue.  There seems to be room for improvement but that is a fire department issue. The Trustee should not control the fire department like the current Trustee is now.

The Trustee does not control the fire department; he controls the people that work for him. The control of the fire department rests with the membership and the current trustee is just one of those members.