Letters to the Editor: What’s wrong with that man?
What’s wrong with that man?
The way he treats them
They seem to unnerve him
Only want his attention
What’s wrong with that man?
Silly nonsensical things
Cause his blood to boil
Makes his loud voice ring
What’s wrong with that man?
Hollow answers. “Not now!” “Tomorrow”
“I’m much too busy” he will say
They need his attention now ... Today!
What’s wrong with that man?
Little ones grow up so fast
Soon gone, doesn’t he realize?
Which memories of him will last?
What’s wrong with that man?
God gave him a pattern
Of how he should train them
Teach them and treat them.
What’s wrong with that man?
Wish I could change him, make him see
But what makes me even angrier
That man sad to say … He is me!
Keith J. Welch
Holland
Ottawa Impact needs to lead, not just occupy a seat
There are many characteristics that make a great leader. However, it all comes down to two things.
The first is building strong relationships with people. The second is knowing what one does in the position they hold. From these two things come other characteristics such as integrity, listening, ethical behavior and some others.
I have been watching, listening and reading what the Ottawa Impact members of the county commission and they do not seem to be doing either of these two things very well. They, including county Administrator John Gibbs, do not seem to walk their talk when it comes down to fiscal responsibility, transparency and good government. They avoid interviews, avoid FOIAs, make bad decisions, attack the integrity of the county clerk and continue to spend recklessly among other things. They follow one person, Mr. Moss, like aimless sheep with only one mission, to undermine the health department and all the good people that work there. Not building relationships.
Those people that comment on the COVID-19 situation at board meetings and how the pandemic was handled are old news. It is time to move on from that. COVID will always be here in some form or another and, unfortunately, people will suffer and possibly die from it if they do not take the necessary precautions like any other disease. However, this group continues to hold a vendetta against the health department for doing their jobs. Building relationships and doing their jobs seem to be foreign to them.
As a former fiscal services director, I continue to be concerned about the effect on the AAA bond rating of Ottawa County. We worked hard to get it and maintain it. There are very few counties in the state and the country that enjoy that distinction and once you lose that it is difficult to get that back. This is important to Ottawa County for any bonds and the interest rates on those bonds the county sells in the future. It also affects all the municipalities in Ottawa County that rely on the county’s rating to sell their bonds using the county’s rating, thus affecting Ottawa County residents in future taxes. It is time for the Ottawa Impact commissioners to be GREAT leaders — not just occupy a chair at the table.
Bob Spaman
Hudsonville
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Letters to the Editor: What’s wrong with that man?
