A fire department decision has been made!

In the Wednesday Aug. 16, Standard Journal, there is an article on page one, with the heading, “Latest county work session ends without decision on move forward for paid fire department.”

In the first paragraph of the article, it is noted that what to do about the fire department has been a long standing question for both voters and commissioners. The second paragraph reads “Twice a referendum on putting a paid fire department in place, has gone on the ballot, and twice it has been defeated.” I think there has been only one referendum, but that does not change the fact that the voters have made a clear decision and have voted positively to disallow the creation of a paid Polk County fire department. The vote, of the citizens, who were interested enough in the business of the county to vote, was a clear majority and the decision was clear.

It seems that there are a few who do not respect the voters of Polk County. If the votes of the people were respected, then the decision has been made and the debate should end.

If the voters decision is not being honored, then the obvious question is who (as in an individual or small special interest group) will benefit with the establishment of the paid fire department?

The United States was founded as a republic, but nowadays most people refer to it as a democracy. It does not matter whether a republic or a democracy, if a democratically held vote means anything, honor the democratic vote that was held and by a clear majority Polk County voters opted to stay away from more taxes and more government, that is no Polk County fire department.

County representatives (commissioners), you should represent the voters and not the special interest and the few. Honor our vote! For Liberty, William F. Ingram Jr.