Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor
This is the first time I have responded to any comments made by any person regarding my son, Mike Robertson’s actions as mayor of Beebe. However, since Mr. Greg Sanders placed his insulting comments regarding the city park I feel I have a right to speak my piece as well.
Mr. Sanders says, “I just wish the mayor would take pride in the park just as much as he does selling furniture during the hours which citizens have tried to call to reach his office unsuccessfully. Perhaps change is needed for leadership style that is ready to tackle real issues, account for responsible budget, and keep this a dream hometown.
My son and I own Warehouse Furniture. There are days that our community phone rings as many as fifty times regarding city business. There is never a time when Mike refuses to put the city calls before Warehouse Furniture business. In addition, he sits for hours in his office, in this store, discussing city problems with anyone who brings them to him. Warehouse Furniture’s doors are open to the citizens of Beebe six days a week, eight hours a day. NO ONE is refused a right to bring their grievance to this store.
I doubt seriously Greg Sanders puts in as many hours at his job as Mike Robertson does for the City of Beebe. If Mr. Sanders is so interested in better government and thinks he can fulfill this need, he should resign his present occupation and seek the office. He will be rewarded with the sum total of twenty four thousand dollars annually. Look around Mr. Sanders, check out what other cities pay their mayors. It may surprise you!
Sir, I doubt the City of Beebe, or any other (Southern city), will ever be able to match the income he derives from his work with Warehouse Furniture. I served as Mayor of Beebe all of 1975 and half of 1976. The salary at that time was a whopping $250.00 a month, which I donated in full to the city park. Unlike Mike, I did not care to take the abuse that a mayor is subjected to by people like Mr. Greg Sanders. I resigned and let another person have that responsibility and enormous salary. Fortunately, Mr. Roy Simmons was retired and did not have to depend on $250.00 monthly for his income. It was evident Mr. Simmons cared for the city or he would not have taken on the responsibilities and abuse that goes with the office.
Mike mentioned that he had donated five thousand dollars to the parks from his salary. I suggest Mr. Sanders do the same. If he will, I too will match his contribution. I will be looking forward to Mr. Sanders contribution so that I can cut my check as well.
Sincerely,
W. L. Robertson
Dear Editor,
This is the first time in my fifty-four years that I have ever written a letter to the editor of Beebe. I was appalled to read the letter from Mr. Greg Sanders in the Beebe News. Mr. Sanders obviously has not been around long if he is willing to blame Mike Robertson for the problems of the city.
When my children were small, if you were willing to make the hike to the restrooms the stench was horrible and no toilet paper available. The concession stands were deplorable as well.
Most of the improvements made to the ballpark were made during Mike Robertson’s previous service as mayor of Beebe while the deterioration took place under the last administrations. Since Mr. Sanders admittedly has not enrolled his children before this year, it sounds like he needs to find out when the “top notch baseball facility” he describes came into being and when it deteriorated. During the last few months this administration has spent thousands of dollars in repairs. This is money that the city would have saved if the previous administration believed in maintenance.
Mr. Sanders, Mike Robertson has always prided himself on honestly running the city. You need to investigate his prior record as well as this one. He has openly made the records for parts on order and replacements that are being made available to you. He has not heard from you since doing that. It is so easy to remain a disgruntled, gossiping citizen rather than becoming part of the solution.
I challenge you to find out the facts. Mr. Sanders, when did the deterioration take place? It has not happened during this administration.
During both of Mike Robertson’s terms as mayor, grants have been written to improve the parks. What happened during the years that he did not serve as our mayor? During the terms served by the previous mayor, I know that many citizens wished the city would have been run as well as Mr. Ward’s classroom was or then again -- maybe not. Mr. Ward certainly was not available during the hours he was not in the mayor’s office.
Sincerely,
Deborah Buzzell
This is part of the June 19, 2008 online edition of The Beebe News.
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