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Letters from our Readers
Editor: No funds for our kids A few years ago I sat in on a meeting for the Hartington Business’ History Book. The discussion was on the Business’ that started and grew our town, past and present. They also talked about what was needed to keep our town growing. The young ladies said they wanted the city to buy or build a building for a city owned affordable day care, but it fell on deaf ears, there was no money, Really? No money? But now the taxpayers will soon own a building with enough square footage for all the rug rats and the cycle motors in all of Cedar County. They can have all the fun in the world, to run, crawl, scoot, hop and roll! Win! Win! And more sleeping space than an army barracks. Win! Win! Now how will this work, you may ask? First: there will be no overhead cost. Win! Win! No Rent, taxes, insurance, gas, electrical, water, sewers, telephone or maintenance cost or bills. They will be paid by the city. Win! Win! The only cost will be for food (grants will help here) and for six full time care takers. The number of caretakers will depend on how many newborns, infants, toddlers and pre schoolers are enrolled. There should also be six or more volunteers. All full/part time employees and volunteers will be vetted. That shouldn’t be a problem for our town. Win! Win! This day care is not for profit. The cost of salaries and food cost would be divided by the kids enrolled. The more kids, the cost per child goes down! Affordable child day care! Win! Win! Second: The parents and grandparents should reach out to family, friends and neighbors, maybe get a petition going. Next, go to the city office (the south office not the north one) and get on the agenda for the next 10-20-30 city council meetings. You’ll need to tell the clerk exactly what you want to address; using the newly acquired building as an affordable child day care center. Win! Win! Now remember , each person can only speak three minutes per meeting, boo!! So you’ll need 10-20 or more at each meeting Win! Win! Third: So what’s the benefits for our city and citizens? Instead of having another money pit (according to our mayor) that will sit empty, 350360 days a year (give or take 5-10 days) the pit will be used 260 days a year plus one day for Leap Year, minus holidays and bad weather days. Win! Win!
The next benefit is that this day care could actually bring young families to Hartington and our own kids (and grand kids) back to Hartington, Win! Win! For Grandparents. We could see a boom in housing and business construction, with all these young people zooming back to Hartington. Win! Win! There’ll be so much construction, carpentry, heating/cooling and of course plumbing and electrical. This will bring more new young contractors moving to our town, keeping cost down! Win! Win! People that know me, know that I never want to sound like Trump with his USA busting tariffs, but there’ll be so much money in Hartington, that we’ll run out of things to buy, our mattress’s will be bulging with money ‘we’ll’ be winning so much, that we’ll actually get tired of winning! Finally; I suggest naming our (not a pit business) The “Ferdie Peitz Skylon Ballroom” and “Affordable child care center”, in his memory. Win! Win! If you knew or ever met Ferdie, he always put everyone, our town, county, state and country before himself! God speed Ferdie! So parents and grandparents, go to your city council meetings, its your right, your town and your new city affordable child care center building. Win! Win!
Dennis Schumacher Hartington
