Your view: BMU was right

I have relatives who work for the City of Sikeston, therefore I am hesitant to give my name, but would like to comment on the recent revelations by Josh Bill.

His figures, if accurate, warrant much more attention than they have received in the press. The fact that the administrative personnel receive the salaries indicated by Josh Bill is not the issue with myself, other citizens and city employees. The issue is that they were very dishonest with everyone and, while saying the city finances were in such bad shape, were giving themselves large salary increases as if they were CEOs of a corporation. They are not. They are public servants and what they did, in my opinion, was dishonest and immoral, if not possibly illegal.

I have lived in Sikeston all my life and I am very proud to have made my home here since 1940. I consider myself a very positive and progressive citizen and realize there are some issues that need attention in order to attract new businesses to our community. The eyesores, referred to as discouraging business from locating here, is a valid issue. But I also think the conduct of our city officials can discourage people from locating in Sikeston.

I am very disappointed that our city council and mayor would let themselves be so misinformed or misled to the degree of allowing such large salary increases at a time when the city needed more money to fund public safety and other areas. Since we were misled previously, how can we be assured we will receive a reduction of 21 percent on our property taxes?

I salute our Board of Municipal Utilities for their fiscal responsibility and insight when they rejected the city's proposal to use some of BMU's funds to finance the city's expenditures. Could it be that BMU was aware that something was amiss?

I sincerely believe the sales tax issue is dead in the water.

A very concerned and lifetime citizen of Sikeston