U A DMF- ArY, S 1 ,E- VIEWPOINTS & OPINIONS Derek Maul, derekmaul@gmail.com, Sunbelt Newspapers I've got to be honest, I'm really tired of hearing con- servative commentators tell me I have no right to say I support our troops unless I can simultaneously bring myself to back the administration 100 percent regard- ing the particulars that define the president's prosecu- tion of this war. So chew on this: Our service men and women are some of the most courageous and noble people in all of America. They put their lives on the line, they give everything they have, and we owe freedom itself to their historic willingness to serve. National Guard volunteers often put their income on the line along with their lives, a hardship many of us. fail to grasp. Fifty such heroes from the 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment, returned home to Plant City last week. One-hundred-fifty more are scheduled to arrive in the fall. Each one of them would tell you they don't care two hoots about your politics or mine. BIBLE VERSE "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on: Sthe armour of light." Romans 13;12 uWamnnee Bcruot cr MYRA C. REGAN Members ot the Suwannee Publisher Democrat editorial board are Mvra SUSAN K. LAMB Managing Editor C. Regan. publisher, and Susan K. Lamb. managing editor. Our View is formed by that board. GUEST EDITORIAL Remarkable sacrifice They had a job to do, they gave it their all, and now they are thankful to be home. I support our troops. At the same time the unrestrict- ed exchange of ideas is essential to the freedom those in uniform protect. Take that away and there's very lit- tle reason to suit up. Here's my take-and I wouldn't dare to think this way ifthe 116th didn't have my back. Based on the limited intelligence presented to the American people post 9/11, I placed myself wholeheartedly behind President Bush, but, when our attention shifted fromAfghanistan to Iraq I have to confess I began to feel uneasy. The ar- guments, however, appeared above reproach, and when the Commander in Chief looked me in the .eye through the television screen and asked for my support I felt a surge of confidence and I wanted him to be right. Today, however, I believe both the spirit of our con- stitution and the principles of simple integrity demand that citizens ask hard questions, and that we expect straightforward answers that hold up'in the light. And I find myself increasingly at odds with some of our leaders regarding certain fun- damental steering currents that sem to be em- bedded in the definition and the direction of America's foreign policy. I may wellbe wrong. and I ha\ e been kiiown to disagree with myself from time to time,.but a.s, efortn to stifle intelligent conversation based on the fanciful noon that our fine soldiers. sailors, aviators and marines might hate their feelings hurt is absurd at best and insulting to all of us-those m and out of unifonn. I respect President Bush. Not onl\ that. I hon- S estli believe he is a decent human being, a man r conmmuted to doing good and to using his office Sfor the furtherance of peace and goodwill. But I have also come to the conclusion that Washington amounts to' a kind of a large rock, a dank place under which many wretched crea- tures crawl, toxic life-forms who scurry without con- science around the halls of power. These people influ- ence decisions too. Derek Maul Here's an essential truth. As a representative democracy, a republic designed to balance, the power of elected go\ enunent \ ith the voice and the conscience of average citizens-men and women unbeholden to office, vested interest or the al- lure of power-it is our responsibility and it is our duty to hold one-another accountable. I honestly fear for the future of functional liberty in our world ifwe-the invited States of America-continue to use invasion and the imposition of western-styled "free government" as our modus operandi vis-a-vis long-term international diplomacy. 'Qurpresident, a good nian with some creepy-crawly friends, appears to be committed to going down a road I do not agree with and-to be honest-l'm disappointed. On the other hand I value our s\stenm of checks and balances, a principle that will not \\ork absent open and honest dialogue along tie way.. So %%hat has this to do with 200 tired and diuty sol- diers from the National Guaid's 116th? Eer\tling. It tums out. \e salute you. and \\e pay homage the only \\ a Americans can, by promising to shine our flash- lights under all die rocks, and to li e in freedom b\ the light ofliberating truth. Colniiintst Detek lMaul is Thampa i1b id Rlit iici/ Reach him at tderitelnauld a'Sal.Lcr, or check out itore otllis work at DerekAI Mil.conm. COMMISSIONERS AGENDA Sun annee Count Board of County SCommissioners Tentatih e Agenda for Thursday, Sept. 7.2006 meet- ing, 9 a.m. , Li %e Oak City Hall ll Southeast \\'hte Avenue Li\e Oak, FL 32064 ImnocationPledge to American Flag ATTENTION: * The Board may add emergency items to this agenda. * Lunch Break-Approdsmatel noon until 1 p.m. CONSENT: m I Approv'e pay.menit of in%\ og 0&0. 2. Approve payment of Invoice No. 52117. in the amount of 430,006.31 to Anderson Columbia Co., Inc.. for work done on Mt. Olive Baptst Church Road 3. .ppoinnnent oflarrn Schattle Jr. (the current alter- nate member) to replace Man Mlarable. \\ho now re- sides in Hamilton Countt on the Construcnon Board ofAdjustmfients and Appeals. 4. Approve reappointment Gary Martin, from District 3, for another term on the Zoning Board-ofAdjustment & Planning and Zoning Board, retroactive to Sept. 2, , 2006. 5. Approve reappointment of Paul Gamble, from Dis- trict 3. for another term on the volunteer Fire Board. 6. Approval reappointment of Cleatos McCook, from ,District 1, for another term on the Volunteer Fire SBoard. 7. Approval of Release of Lien for Chris and Renata Beasley, S.H.I.P. Clients. 8. Approval of Release of Lien for William and Kasey Davis, S.HI,P. Clients.' 9. Approval of Release of Lien for Terrance and Lind- sey Smith, S.H.I.P. Clients : - 10. Approval of Proclamation proclaiming Sept. 30 as Charles F. Justice Day. 11. Approval of Proclamation proclaiming Sept. 22 as Native American Day. 12. Acceptance of Warranty Deed from the Historical Commission to the County for the Live OakTrain De- pot. (Tabled during Aug..15 meeting.) 13. Adoption of resolution encouraging the Governor of Florida to call a special session to study and enact legislation addressing the insurance crisis in Florida. (Tabled during Aug. 15 meeting.) 14. Approval of records destruction request from the Clerk's Office. , TIME SPECIFIC ITEMS: 15. At 9 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, discuss, with possible Board action, the re- establishment of Forestville. (James E..Hendon and Commissioner Billy Maxwell) 16. At 9 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, consider adoption of resolution increasing the maximum S.H.I.P. award for low, very low and moderate income clients and Emergency Repair, clients. (Matt Pearson, S.H.I.P. Program Director) 17. At 9 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, presentation of S.H.I.P. Annual Reports. (Matt Pearson, S.H.I.P. Program Director) 18. At 9 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, consider approval of contract with Health Department for Fiscal Year 2006-07. (Kim Peppers, Business Manager) 19. At 9:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, introduction of new Family and Con- sumer Science/4-H Agent, Catherine Rogers. (Mered- Please address letters to: Letters To The Editor, Suwannee Democr PO Box 370, Live Oak, FL 32064. Please include your name, full address and daytime phone number. We ask this so'we can varify your lettE and discuss any questions about it with you. ith Ta lor. Extension Director) 20. At 9:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard. request permission to advertise for bids for new\ telephone s'stein at Extensiou Office. (Meredith Taylor, Extension Director). 21. At 9:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter, as. he matter can be heard, consider approt al of proposed amend- ment to the Code of Conduct for the Suwannee River SRegional library. (Tabled during Aug. 15 meeting.) i John D. Hales Jr., Director of L ibranes) 22. A 10 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard. onehids lr hait0.i of limerock f qtL e p ntnt' es. 101V \VWorks Director 23. At 10 a.m.. or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, open bids for two three point, hitch mount- ed tree cutters for the Public Works Department. (T. Jenir Sikes. Public Works Director) 24. At 10 a.m.; or as soon thereafter as the matter can. be heard, open bids for battenes for the Public Works Department(. (TJerry Sikes, Public Works Director) , 25. At 10;a.m.. or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, open bids for anti-freeze for the Public Works Department. (T. Jerry Sikes, Public Works Di- rector) ' 26. At 10 a.m.. or as soon thereafter as the manner can be heard, open bids'for motor oil and hydraulic oil for the Publc Works Department. (T: Jerry Sikes, Public Works Director) 27. At 10 a.m.. or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, open bids for galvanized corrugated metal. pipe for the Public Works Department. (T. Jerry Sikes. Public Works Director) 28. At 11 a.m.. or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, consider approval of preliminary plat of Oaks of Pennington Subdivision in District 4, (Ronald Mleeks. Planning and Zoning Diector): 29. At 1 p.m.. or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, hear proposal, with possible Board action, to accept a donation to .county of 3.25 acres, including county access road, to be used for a county park and boat ramp on Lake Louise. (Anita Handy, Poole Real- ty) 30. At 7 p.m.. or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, hold a public hearing to consider adoption of resolutions pertaining to the amendments to the fol- lowing Land Development Regulations ,(LDR's): (Ronald Meeks, Planning and Zoning Director) LDR 06-2, LDR 06-3, LDR 06-4, LDR 06-5, LDR 06- 6, LDR 06-7, LDR 06-8, LDR 06-9, LDR O6-10, LDR 06-11, LDR 06-12, LDR 06-13, LDR 06-14; LDR 06- 15, LDR 06-16, LDR 06-17, LDR 06-18, LDR 06-19,' LDR 06-20, LDR 06-21, LDR 06-22, .LDR 06-23, LDR 06-24, LDR 06-25, LDR 06-26 and LDR 06-27. GENERAL BUSINESS: 31. Chairman call for emergency items. (Any items that the Board agrees to consider willibe heard under Agenda Item No. 56, Emergency Agenda Items.) 32. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting held on Aug. 1: (Tabled during Aug. 15 meeting.) 33. Approval of minutes of the budget workshops held on Aug. 3 AND Aug. 10. 34. Approval of minutes of regular meeting held on Aug. 15 AND of recessed meeting held on Aug. 22. 35. Public concerns and comments. (Come forward to podium-limit comments to five minutes.) 36. Kenneth Dasher, Clerk of Circuit Court, to present report. 37. Constitutional Officers' Reports. 38. Staff Reports a) John G. Wooley, County Coordinator b) T. Jerry Sikes, Public Works Director at, c) John D. Hales Jr., Director of Libraries d) HalA. Airth, County Attorney e) Greg Scott, Recreation Department Director ar 39. Approval of Change Order No. 3 with ERC General Contracting, Inc. for additional time of 271 days for installation of new GCL for the Class I Landfill Expansion Closure. (T. Jerry Sikes, Public Works Director 40. Appro al of Change Order No. 4\ ith ERC Gen- eral Contracting, Inc. for reducnon of contract amount for net tax savings to County for tax exempt materials. and for unused pomon of Item B for the Class I Land- fill Expansion Closure. (T. Jerry Sikes, Public .Works Director 41. Approval of Final Payment, in the amount of $159,595,65, to ERC General Contracting Services, Inc. fr the Class I Landfill E\x .nit closure T. Jer- 42. Approval of County Incentive Grant Program Agreement for the realignment of mntersecion on Walker Avenue.. 100th Street (Bass Road), and SPinewood' Drive. AND adoption of enabling resolu- tion IT. Jerry Sikes. Public Works Director) 43. Approval of County Incentive Grant Program Agreement for the wideningg and resurfacing of CR 417, from US 90 to CR 136E. AND adoption of en- abling resolunon. IT. Jerry Sikes. Public workss Direc- tor) 44. Approval of County Incentive Grant Program Agreement for widening and resurfacing of 54th Street, from 129 to CR "795, AND adoption of en- abling resolution. (T. Jerr Sikes. Public Works Direc- tor),' 45. Permission to purchase air curain bunrier on Gov- emrnment Serices Agreement contract. (T. Jerry Sikes, Public Works Director ' 46. Permission to advertise for bids for resurfacing of 208th Street. (S.C.R.A.P. Grant) (T. Jerry Sikes, Public Works Director) . 47. Permission to advertise for bids for resurfacing of Mattress Factory Road. (S.C.O.P. Grant) T. Jerry Sikes. Public WorksD Director) 48. Discuss. v itih possible Board action, adjustment of Transfer Station tipping fees. (T. Jenr Sikes. Public Works Director 49. Approval of Lump Sum Construction Contract with Anderson Columbia Co., Inc., in the amount of $757,997.60. for the Runway 7-25 pavement iehabili- tation. (Donald Robinson, Assistant County Coordina- tor/Airport Manager) 50. Approval of lease agreement with Cody Collins, The Caribbean Company, for rental of office space in hangar located at Airport. (Tabled during. Aug. 15 Meetingg) (Donald Robinson, Assistant County Coor- dinator/Airport Manager) . 51. Consider approval of Supplemental Agreement .No. 04-03, between Earth Tech Consulting, Inc. and the Board, for Construction Inspection Services for SRinway 7/25 rehabilitation at the Suwannee County Airport. (Donald Robinson, Assistant County Coordi- nator) 52. Discuss, with possible.Board action,. the draft of the job description for the position' of Public Safety Di- rector. (Tabled during Aug. 15 meeting.) (John G. Wooley, County.Coordinator) 531 Consider recommendation of Bid Review Com- mittee of awarding bid for Multi-Media Digital Log- ging System (RFP 2006-16), for Suwannee County E911-Public Safety Communications Center. (John G. Wooley, County Coordinator) 54. Discuss, with possible Board action, the Board's position on county-wide voting for election of com- missioners as to the Board campaigning for or against. (Commissioner Douglas Udell) 55. Discuss, with possible Board action, the policy concerning non-county employees in county owned vehicles, AND consider establishing a policy for chil- dren at the workplace. (Commissioner Jesse Caruthers) 56. Emergency agenda items. 57. Board members' inquiries, requests and com- ments. RANT & RAVE This NEW column is your chance to complain or praise, but you need to do it in 30 seconds or less. Call 208-8314 or e-mail susan.lamb@ gaflnews.com A big thanks to the Live Oak Police Department and the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office the west side of town Walker Av- enue -is a lot safer and a lot less drugs. Thank you Sheriffs Office, thank you Live Oak Police Depart- tuent, you're doing a good job. Am I the only Christian in Live Oak who is upset over the painting hanging Sin City Hall depicting.hell and graphically showing the Bible and collection plate tossed aside? It ap- pears evil. the devil and hell are honored in City Hall. -,i:'hy hasn't the'Su"'a - nee County School bard' set their budget high enough so the schools, teachers and clubs don't have to go soliciting for money and more money? InB Our county commis- sioners in Suwannee County are approving de- velopment after develop- ment, allowing developers to increase density values. Meanwhile, most of the folks moving to Suwannee County are coming from South Florida where they are fleeing development. Our county commission- ers have to be crazy or cor- rupt to take us in the direc- tion they are taking us. Developers are the new carpet baggers of the South. II , I'm sure a lot of people don't know how they dre being taken to the cleaners and the rich get richer and the poor get poorer in this county and probably other counties as well. An article explaining exactly how the appraiser gets these values would be an interesting read. How is timber land getting such a reduced val- ue? How do they come up with AG Land Value? To me for property to get AG Value it should actually be fanned for something and not just growing pine trees that produce income to the owner that doesn't have to pay any taxes. This is the case all over this coun- ty.....the lower income and middle income families are paying the bulk of'the taxes while the person that owns large acreage is pay- ing next to nil and some none. 1' . ; 0 SUWANNEE DEMOCRAT/LIVE OAK FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 200,6 - DPAGE 6A e