Alderman says ‘dream retirement turned into a nightmare’

TO THE EDITOR:

My dream retirement has turned into a nightmare. My wife and I bought the house my father was raised in in 1973. I worked in construction for 16 years up and down the East Coast and in the Midwest. Our children were always disappointed when we moved and they had to change schools and leave their friends.

When we left Iowa and came home, there was a run-down marina for sale on Lake James, my wife and I talked about purchasing it so our children could remain in one school system until they graduated.

We bought the marina with our savings and worked to rebuild the business. For 20 years we worked long hours with family and friends to rebuild the business. Fast forward 20 years later we sold and retired.

What I thought would be dream retirement turned into a nightmare when I ran for town alderman.

I was used to people being accountable to do their best to do their job. I have tried to go above and beyond to make things better for our citizens. During this time I have taken time away from my family and friends, to spend time working for free to try to improve our town.

My wife and I have volunteered by picking up trash, decorating downtown, and helping with any other needs of our town for over 20 years.

I realize that being in the minority on the board, it is now time for me at my advanced age to spend more time with my family and friends.

I hope the citizens forgive me for alienating some in our town government by bringing up things that happen in town that I personally don’t agree with, like wasting resources, wasting manhours, misuse of equipment, and employees spending unnecessary time outside of town.

As a supervisor in construction and small business owner, things that waste manhours and money were not an option. So I apologize to the citizens, but don’t expect me to change; it’s not in my DNA.

Some people say I am against the Police and Fire departments. Not true, just wasteful spending. Some of my best friends have been police and rescue employees to name a few: Kelly Kincaid, Steve Foster, Randy McKenny, Ronnie Hicks, Clint Patton, Steve Baker, John Lowdermilk, Jim Jennings, Mike Orders, Tommy Helms, SJ Griffith, John Kayga, and Jerry Causby.

The citizens should be the first concern when making any decision, not the employees; if that is wrong then I will always be wrong.

Our government is growing faster than the public can afford. Please help me slow the growth down to a reasonable rate. When Social Security goes up 3%, wages go up maybe 4 to 6%, groceries go up every day, taxes go up 32% and fuel goes up, how are people supposed to survive?

REID SCOTT

Glen Alpine