An Editorial by Renee Spaide:
In a world filled with hatred, who would have ever thought that it would trickle down to local government. Unfortunately, that is where we are. The ”save Smola farm” debacle is all about hatred, not a one-and-a-half-acre piece of land.
I am a past commissioner. I was on the board when many of these decisions were made. They were good common-sense decisions. I challenge anyone to walk through our police department and observe its condition and not conclude that we are long overdue to fix our infrastructure.
We have needed a new administrative building, road crew building, and police facilities for quite a long time. Sound decisions were made in order to make this building opportunity possible. We need our road crew and police to be able to get to emergencies. The Route 100 corridor and Farmington Avenue, Evans Road area is a perfect area to place a building. But again, this is not about a building or land. It is about hatred. Our nation is divided right now and the attack on President Trump was just about hatred.
In the Township, this hatred has been directed at the majority of the commissioners who authorized the building site and, specifically, Trace Slinkerd, the Board President. Trace has done a phenomenal job in balancing the budget, paying off all debt, and managing investments. I have a great deal of respect for our Board President. He is a retired Army Colonel. Everyone should respect that, but a small opposition group does not. He reminds me so much of my Dad. My Dad was a Captain in the US Army during WWII and I always respected his dedication to service for our country.
It is my understanding that one of the sitting commissioners has (in public) made reference to the fact that this does not have anything to do with land, it is about attacking Trace. Sound familiar?
We are living in hard times right now and this “save the farm” ruse—by the way, there is not a farm on the building site—is not logical. We decided that the building site is in the best interest of the Township. As for our maintenance situation with our current buildings, we are constantly putting bandaids on them. Consequently, with every infrastructure issue, the price goes up!
I also have a great deal of respect for our police chief Jim Fisher. In light of what happen last weekend, I am thoroughly happy that the Chief is at all of the meetings. He was my first choice as Chief when we needed one. He does a wonderful job and is out on the streets with his officers and for that I say, “Thank You”. And, with this situation of this opposition group attacking Chief Fisher for maintaining order at board meeting, is, again, just hatred.
I feel many folks have lost the ability to be human. I see it in my own neighborhood. I am ok with that because I know as a commissioner for our Township we made so many good decisions.
Stop the hatred and maybe we can get things done. Take the “Smola” signs down. They do not mean a thing to most people. People do not even understand what they mean. Please stop and think what is best for Upper Pottsgrove and it is not frivolous lawsuits.
Renee Spaide is a past commissioner who served three four-year terms, served as Board Vice President and is currently the Upper Pottsgrove Judge of Elections. Renee is a long-time resident of the Upper Pottsgrove Community.