Letters to the Editor

Now that the election is over and we know the hospital district proposal failed, the question becomes, “What now?”. I think most everyone agrees some type of health care facility is needed. I know my family has used and benefited from the hospital here. However, as a business and property owner, I know property taxes are already a huge burden and the burden gets heavier each year. There must be a better way to ensure adequate health care without creating an additional tax burden.

By the time you read this, Tuesday’s hospital district election will be “in the books”…as long as we don’t have any “hanging chads” or “3:00 AM data dumps”. As I am writing this, I have no idea how the vote will wind up. Obviously, it either Passed or Failed. Either way, I just wanted to let you know where I stand. Let’s take the outcomes, one at a time. If it failed:

MADISON COUNTY CITIZENS, As most of you are aware, we are at the brink of probably one of the most important elections that our County will have faced in a number of years. An election that will have long-term consequences, regardless of the outcome.

Thanks Clark and Matt for starting this urgently needed public, communitywide, out-of-the-closet-finally, massive new tax conversation which we all start voting on this coming Monday, Oct 18th! An older brother came to to me in church this past Sunday morning and said something like this; “André, I MUST speak with you privately today on an urgent matter!” We slipped to the back of the church immediately and with a little more privacy between us, he continued with unabashed passion. “Did you know that there is a $33 million, 30-year hospital bond on the ballot next week, right here in Madison County? Do you know about this? Does anybody know about this!?” “Do you know that if this horrible proposition passes into law we have an 87-year-old brother, right here in our congregation, who will have to pay nearly $2,000 more taxes every year on his family property, with a very small fixed income for both him and his darli wife? They don’t have the money to pay for this enormous new tax burden and there is no grandfather clause to protect them! Nothing!” “Who is behind this ambush and how do we stop this cancer of unneede taxation? We don’t want a $33 million hospital in Madisonville when we have St.

Many years ago, we were asked to volunteer as part of a Healthcare Advisory Board to St. Joseph Madison Hospital. Through that volunteer service we began to see first-hand all the issues our facility faces and after much discussion agreed— we need a new hospital. We researched our options, sought the advice of legal experts and decided our best option would be to once again ask the voters of Madison County to support this community initiative.

SUPPORT THE MADISON COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT To the people of Madison County: On the November ballot, you will have the choice to vote for the creation of a Madison County Hospital District to build a new hospital in Madison County. I’m asking for your support on this very critical asset for our community.

The community of North Zulch really came together during the recent arctic blast event that hit our county and community. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and thanks for the way everyone came out to help North Zulch M.U.D. to be able to minimize damage to our system and, more importantly, help get it back online. There were seven local contractors that offered not only their time and expertise but also crews of workers and any needed items that we were unable to procure on our own. Numerous people came out to help with repairs, potable water distribution, meter reading and shut offs, and once water was restored, they were out again to turn meters back on to our 700 customers. Numerous other patrons and local businesses were glad to bring and/or prepare food for all the volunteers and that was greatly appreciated by all. We are so very PROUD of our North Zulch Community.

On Tuesday, January 19 of this year, I went to St. Joseph’s Emergency room to put my name on the list for the COVID-19 immunization shot. I was told that they have them available and being that I am over 65, I should be able to receive the shot. Not so!