Letter to the Editor: Says Charles City should vote in favor for a fourth board member

Charles City is slowly dying from a life-threatening cancer. We can choose to treat it aggressively or leave it to fate.

Effectively treating cancer is scary and often painful. Recovery is not immediate. I believe most of us would choose treatment.

We have already begun to pick away at the cancer with a court-ordered forensic audit; a very deep dive into only three problem areas. Citizens who are subject matter experts have repeatedly cautioned our board [of supervisors] with facts. They have nothing to gain for themselves and do so for the love of the place we all call home. While these facts are sometimes clouded by emotion, they have not been acted on.

We are now somewhere in the range of $14-18 million in debt incurred over the past few years. We’ve had six consecutive years of failed county audits with material weaknesses.

On April 14, registered voters will have the opportunity through a special referendum to begin the process of advanced treatment of our cancer; to change our form of government to a “county board.” This change allows the addition of one at-large supervisor that would be elected later by special election. This position will have the power to stop excess spending and rebalance committee appointments, among other things.

Equally important is a four-member board will diminish the powers of our county administrator. Under our traditional form of government, the county administrator controls the flow of information to board members. Board members cannot legally fact check with each other.

Jackie S. Stewart
Charles City