LETTERS: June 10, 2008

June 10, 2008 10:27 am

— Edwardsville readers respond to debate
Although it may be true that Edwardsville is a mere hamlet in the state of Indiana, it has a larger population than the town of Georgetown and the majority of its population is opposed to housing the treatment facility of another community.
The residences of Edwardsville do not all have a Georgetown address as stated, but many have addresses that include Lanesville and New Albany. The citizens of Edwardsville would also object to these communities wishing to place a treatment facility inside its borders, just as we are sure that the City of New Albany would object if Clarksville or Jeffersonville would want to erect a treatment facility within the borders of New Albany.
It may also be true that the facility would be a “wastewater” only treatment facility, but that does not preclude any solids from being stored there, thus the concern of foul odor is factual and not merely a scare tactic. Since the solids are to be transported via septic trucks from the facility, it not only raises concerns for traffic and safety, but brings into question any economic inefficiency.
Neither the citizens of Edwardsville nor the Floyd County Commissioners can take the blame for any economic hardships suffered by the people of Georgetown, because that blame rests solely on the past, and now present, Town Board. Poor planning and unwise economic expenditures of the Town Board, plus the desire to place their town’s treatment facility into another community, are the only root cause of the impending cost increases for the citizens of Georgetown.
It is, however, true that the Indiana Court of Appeals has agreed with Georgetown, but not with respect to building the treatment facility. The Appeals Court only agreed that Georgetown did not have to pay any of the legal fees that were incurred by the citizens of Edwardsville to oppose Georgetown’s incorrect attempt at annexation. State law may state that a town has a legal right to build on its own property, but all zoning laws and building codes apply before any structures can be erected and that area is not zoned for that use.
It is the opinion of the citizens of Edwardsville that not only has the Floyd County Commissioners been consistent in their long-term plans for the community, but they also have kept the best interest of the majority of the population. It is our feeling that Georgetown would best be served by erecting their facility at another site and not wasting anymore of the town’s money.
— Nancy Foxworthy, Sandy Clifton, Brenda Simmons, and Judy Gresham of Edwardsville Community Inc.
Cuts to Medicare and Tricare payments to doctors
I wonder how many of your readers are aware that The Congress of the United States is currently considering a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare and Tricare payments to doctors.
To many of us older citizens, this will be devastating. It is now, and is becoming more so, difficult to find a doctor that will accept Medicare payments for their services. A cut of any sort will gravely affect all of us over 65 years of age. This also applies to Tricare, the program similar to Medicare that covers current members of the Armed Forces and Tricare For Life that covers military retirees. Medicaid is not affected.
There is a bi-partisan bill, S.2785, introduced by Sen. Debbie Stebenow (D-Mich.) that will reverse these cuts for the years 2008-09 and currently working its way through Congress. This will provide two years for Congress to find a permanent fix for this recurring problem.
It is essential to all who read this and are concerned, and agree that Medicare and Tricare payments should not be cut, to call their congressman. State that you want him or her to vote against “Cuts to Medicare and Tricare.” You can do this by simply calling the local numbers listed below:
Rep. Baron Hill, 812-288-3999
Sen. Evan Bayh, 812-218-2317
Sen. Richard Lugar, 317-226-5555
It not only affects persons on Medicare, but soldiers in our state’s National Guard and their dependents, as well as other reservists who would be required to visit an active military post, such as Ft. Knox, if no physicians in their area accepts lower Tricare payments. Some military families whose soldiers are overseas are already affected. It is not fair to send our troops in harm’s way, while causing them to worry whether or not their doctor might stop seeing their families because of cuts in Tricare, or that they might have to travel long distances to receive proper care.
Your call is important to all of us over 65, our spouses and dependents, and to our troops and their families, to whom we owe so much. Please call immediately. This law is slated to go into effect July 1 this year, less than 30 days from now.
— Robert H. Kreutzer, Sellersburg