Letter to the editor: Revisiting the past
I lived in Tonganoxie for four years when I was 9 through 12. That was 50 years ago.
I was just recently in Omaha and took a day to drive to your city and relive some old memories. Wow what a nice little place you all have. I can’t believe our old rental home is still there and it was old way back then. Seems the Kansas climate preserves them well.
I loved the swimming pool. I see it is still there newer but very nice. At 62, I still have a longing for that place. Who knows I may move there again some day.
I looked in the phone book for an old friend of my mother’s. She was in the book, and I drove to her address and found she had passed on two years ago. That sounds like the place I remember dead or alive they have your number.
I plan on visiting your newspaper’s Web site often.
George Bekaert,
Auburn, Wash.
Letter to the editor: Keeping a great little town
I just hope that when the people in Tonganoxie go to vote next time they stop and think: Do I want the same people back in office? I hope not. You get people like Franiuk, Williams and Bard who won’t do what is asked of them. Just remember you have the right to vote so use it. Don’t let anyone tell you to sit down and shut up. Tonganoxie is a great little town. I hope we can keep it that way, and we will.
Ron Bollet,
Tonganoxie.
Letter to the editor: A matter of respect
Right now I’m very glad I don’t live in Tonganoxie. You seem to have a mayor who believes he was appointed by God.
When I was a child my parents taught me to respect adults. You called them either Mr., Mrs. or Miss or Sir or ma’am. You never called anyone by their last name only. The way the mayor addressed Mr. Shilling and Mrs. Lenahan showed a complete lack of respect. If I had done that as a child, I wouldn’t have been able to sit for a week. The mayor is an elected official, whether he likes Mr. Shilling or Mrs. Lenahan, he is to show them respect. He is there to represent the people into himself.
I am pretty sure the mayor and council knew it was against the law to hire Ms. Bard, they just didn’t care.
Well the people who put you in office did care, and they let you know. It would be best to be quiet, and respect the people’s will and the law. It might be a good idea for the people of Tonganoxie to start a petition to remove you from office. Maybe Mr. Shilling or Mrs. Lenahan could do that.
One more thing: I worked 13 years for state and city government. If I had written a letter showing the lack of respect for the taxpayers, who paid my salary, like Mr. Williams did, I would have been fired on the spot, and justifiably so.
Robert E. Dally,
Rural Tonganoxie.
Letter to the editor: In response to mayor
I have lived in Tonganoxie all my life except for the years I wore a military uniform and served my country. I have lived, studied and written Tonganoxie history and believe that qualifies me to respond to Mayor Franiuk’s personal attack on my wife, Jean. It is poor taste for an elected official to blast those who are paying his staff.
Jean’s letter was not a personal attack on Franiuk. It was quotes from campaign promises (April 14, 1999, Mirror).
Jean, Don Pelzl and Roger Shilling took the heat over the Fourth Street assessment settlement. Eppley wrote in the grant, “we must join together as a community and fight for the survival of our downtown business district…” Was this to be accomplished through boycott?
Lenahan Hardware was among the first to sign the petition to upgrade Fourth Street. No one in City Hall had cared about appearances of our town. It was an unsafe and unsightly situation, which prompted Jean to literally become a one-man beautification effort. She installed, planted and maintained 14 flowerbeds around the city. Jean and the old orange Lenahan Hardware truck became a daily sight. She became known as “the flower lady of Tonganoxie!”
Franiuk invites people to get involved by attending council meetings and serving on boards. Then he brags about not reappointing Jean to the library board. Your loss Franiuk! Jean attended library-run training, wrote job descriptions, performance standards and a policy manual so the library would qualify for a $9,000 tax grant. Now, board appointments are not best-qualified but those seen as loyal to you.
Your qualities and expertise are demonstrated in your lack of knowledge regarding recent legal issues as demonstrated when you reneged on your promise to make Bard “acting” city clerk. Conversely, you stripped Bard of all title.
Mayor lamented that he was a “registered voter in Leavenworth County” but was not ask to sign Jean’s petition. Sorry Franiuk, Jean’s petition could contain only registered voters of the city a residency requirement.
Mayor bemoans that he and council members serve with “no pay.” Didn’t each of you volunteer? In fact most of you wanted the job so badly you spent money campaigning. Bad argument, Franiuk!
John C. Lenahan,
Tonganoxie.
Letter to the editor: Dissension in Tonganoxie
Regarding comments made by our mayor and one of our police officers: In my opinion, these letters explain why there has been so much dissension between some of the business owners and city government.
To suggest that the past “hissy fits” were brought on out of spite is ludicrous.
What is ludicrous is the fact that we were forced to take the actions we have taken to force the city to honor their word with the downtown business owners.
What is ludicrous is to accuse “us” of costing “the taxpayers” $1,4000 for a special election concerning the city clerk position. The ordinances are on the books. They are to be enforced, not changed at will. Who cost the city $7,000 for a study concerning the city employees salaries when this study could have been conducted free?
If I’m not mistaken, the citizens of Tonganoxie are the government of the city that the council and mayor were chosen in good faith to follow and enforce the laws that are in effect. If the council feels there is need to amend one of these ordinances, should it not be presented to the citizens to decide?
Tonganoxie citizens need to attend the council meetings. Remember to remain in your seat, do not question anything, and for heaven’s sake, don’t prove them wrong.
Roger Shilling,
Tonganoxie.