The Party of Lincoln? Really?

Another day, another threat of violence. Another alleged threat against my business. It does get old, but I try to maintain my sense of humor.

Maybe I'll die laughing like the Arizona Apaches who ate the poisoned pinolé in the 1860s.

Not that there's a lot to laugh at in Hillsboro at the moment.

(And, yes, I realize that to this point, the headline and column content have nothing to do with one another. Indulge me, if you will. If not, well, shoot me, already, but you may have to stand in line.)

Consider:

• Members of Hillsboro City Council are poised next week to effectively disband the Hillsboro Fire Department which, I am told, pre-dates the presidency of one Abraham Lincoln.

• With the exception of two members of council – Bonnie Parr and Brian Waller – Hillsboro City Council seems ready to move in the proverbial "new direction" with little consideration for the long-term effects. Bonnie and Brian deserve your thanks.

• Members of council – with the exception of Council President Lee Koogler – seem perfectly content to allow the mayor to precipitate further legal action – and additional expense to local taxpayers – by allegedly breaching a 2012 agreement with Wagoner Insurance for the city's medical insurance policy.

President Koogler took the honorable approach of publicly stating his opposition to such action. If ever an unopposed candidate were worthy of a complimentary vote from the electorate, come Nov. 5, that candidate is Lee Koogler. He has stood tall where others have fallen short. Please, give Lee Koogler your vote.

What assurances have members of council given Hillsboro citizens and taxpayers that contracting with another district for fire and EMS services is in our long-term best interests?

A five-time elected city auditor (full disclosure: yup, that's her) has asked these relatively simple questions to all members of council:

• What dollar amount has Hillsboro paid in outside legal fees regarding the recent arbitration with the firefighters?

• How much has the city had to pay out in unemployment and reinstatement costs to firefighters?

• If the current firefighters are terminated, what is the estimate of the cost of their unemployment compensation? (Remember that Hillsboro is a “reimbursing employer” and will have to cover the full cost of their compensation.)

• What is the annual payment for the bonded debt for the new fire station? Will Paint Creek get to use the new fire station? Will they pay rent and utilities to the city of Hillsboro if they do?

• What will happen to Hillsboro’s fire equipment? Will it be sold or given away to another fire company such as Paint Creek?

• Where is all of Hillsboro’s Jaws of Life rescue equipment?

• What millage is likely to be charged to Hillsboro residents if this change takes place?

• Why is there such a hurry to enter into a contract with Paint Creek? It certainly is not necessary to rush into this when we have a competent, well-trained fire department of our own to protect us. There simply is no emergency at this time.

* * *

Last year, The Highland County Press published a reasonable, cost-effective solution to the fire/EMS coverage situation. That proposal fell on deaf ears.

It's almost as if this entire situation boils down to one or two grade-school bullies on the playground. That's a poor way to conduct public service.

This morning, I happened to look up the members of the Highland County Republican Party Central Committee. You can find these Party of Lincoln "Leaders" at: http://www.highlandcountyelections.com/subpage1.html.

Any real Republican ought to ask these Central Committee members if they approve of and condone their party's actions. If so, we'd love to publish their status quo endorsements.

What now passes as "good Republican-led government" in the city of Hillsboro is an embarrassment to the Party of Lincoln. A conscientious and independent-minded man like Lincoln wouldn't have a chance today.

While members of Hillsboro City Council have – rightfully – been asked for their respective opinions on the very real possibility of eliminating the Hillsboro Fire Department, members of the Republican Party Central Committee ought to be asked – on the record – to speak in favor of or in opposition to the present administration.

Surely, this is not the Party of Lincoln. Or is it?

Now's your chance. Either Stand and Deliver for what's happening, or forevermore remain silent on the sidelines.

Seems like an easy choice.

* * *

Yes, I will admit to all of you who have been kind enough to read a few of my columns over the past 23 years, I am, indeed, in a bit of a mood today.

Why?

Glad you asked.

After being informed this week that a local public official was spending his taxpayer-funded time contacting local businesses and suggesting that they ought to spend their advertising budgets anywhere other than the only locally owned newspaper in Highland County, I received a phone call from former Highland County Clerk of Courts Paulette Donley, a longtime Republican public official.

Paulette has been a friend of my family for as long as I can remember. She and my mother worked together for Judge Jon Hapner in Hillsboro Municipal Court more than a quarter of a century ago.

When my father died in 1989, Paulette brought food to our house. When my mother (in her capacity as city auditor) was trampled by a runaway bull in the center of Hillsboro a year later, Paulette was among the first to call. When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, Paulette asked if we needed anything. She's been there.

For all the times my family has declined assistance of any kind – which is and always has been a family trait – there were a select few people like Paulette Donley who were there to offer some help.

We will always appreciate it. Paulette is golden in my estimation.

Today, I sent the following correspondence (with the woman's name included) to Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, and Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeremy Shaffer.

Dear Sheriff Ward, et. al.:

While I am not presently seeking action on this incident, on the advice of my attorney I am requesting that your respective offices document it.

On the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, former Highland County Clerk of Courts Paulette Donley called me, stating she was concerned about a conversation initiated by a woman just prior to the start of the Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013 annual meeting of the Highland County Historical Society.

According to Paulette, the essence of the conversation was as follows:

Woman: “Do you have metal detectors here?”

Paulette: “I don’t know.”

Woman: “If Rory Ryan walks in, I am going to shoot that son of a bitch.” 

Paulette said she is willing to state this – on the record – if I want to pursue it.

Additionally, Hillsboro resident Dorothy Hodson was in close proximity of the woman's statement. Paulette said that she did share the content of that statement with Mrs. Hodson on Oct. 17.

Given that this incident occurred on county property, and given that my mother, one of my daughters, and dozens of members of the Highland County Historical Society were in attendance (to say nothing of previous threats made against my business in the past two years), it is prudent that your respective offices have a record of the threat of firearm violence in a public place.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter.

* * *

In light of the much-publicized shootings in recent months, it is quite obvious that had this woman made the same threat within a public school or an airport, she'd most likely be incarcerated. The fact that she could (allegedly) make that statement in a county building and get away with it explains what I go through on a regular basis. (It's good to be bulletproof.)

While I do not anticipate any action whatsoever by any county official (nor have I requested any action), I think it is important that local residents and taxpayers understand what is going on.

This is not about me or my business. (Frankly, if they really annoy me, I'll publish everything.)

This is about public service and the potential abuses related to the public office.

Since taking my first job in the city of Hillsboro in the summer of 1970, I know what I have contributed to the local economy. I know what my family and my employees have contributed. I have served in an unpaid public office for six years.

I'm tired. But mostly, I am appalled at what has been passing for public service in the past two years. Highland County Republicans ought to be as well.

I have made a personal commitment that I will never declare partisan affiliation again in a primary election. The Highland County Republican Party has lost my respect. They have a long way to go if they ever hope to regain it.

Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press.