Over the Easter holiday, I decided to go to visit the Love's Addition cemetery. I knew Danny Davis had presented a public works employee to the board for termination and they granted him his request. I also knew that the person that was terminated was frequently seen mowing the grass. I generally go over to the cemetery to clean my great grandparent’s graves. They have been deceased for over thirty years and their gravestones need a good cleaning every now and then. Now this is not a tutorial in cleaning grave markers, but a few years ago, I discovered that a soft brush (preferably one with a handle) and ammonia were good for cleaning grave stones. Please refrain from using bleach, the elements in the bleach could damage the stone. Also, if you don't have ammonia, vodka could be used instead. Don't ask me how I know? But since this blog post was not about techniques in cleaning gravestones, I will get back to the original subject matter. I went to the cemetery to see if the area had been mowed. I know it was a holiday and a lot of people return home during this time and a lot of people visit the graves of their relatives as well. As I turned the corner, it looked like the grass had not been cut this season. Being the person that I am, I immediately went to the other city owned cemetery to see if the grass had been cut there or had it been neglected like the one located in Love's Addition. When I arrived at the cemetery across from the Lumberton High School, I could tell that the grass had been cut this season, but the areas around the graves had not been weeded. It seems like they ran out of time and could not complete the work but it was still in far better shape that the horrific condition of the other cemetery. Year after year, we have this problem. It seems that more care and attention is provided to one cemetery while others go neglected. As far as I know, those who have loved ones buried in Love's Addition do not love them any less than those that are buried in the Lumberton municipal cemetery. I called and left several messages for Danny Davis to discuss this matter but he has yet to return my calls. I don't know the reason why the person was terminated but a lack of workers in not a viable excuse for this work not getting completed. This has been going on for years and to be honest, they never bothered to give an excuse. For the most part, Danny Davis would say, "we just haven't had time to get around to that area" and leave it at that. Well, that lack of concern is not going to wash any longer. Either get it done in the same manner as you do the other cemetery or we need to get some people in place that can get the work done. I will present my pictures and letters to the mayor and board of alderpersons and hopefully, they will take a more proactive role than the previous boards. There is a lot of grass in Lumberton and they are aware of that every year. Most of the public works department employees have been there for years. By now, they should be well versed in time management.
Another issue that is taking place in the City of Lumberton is the grant application for the water and sewer department. It was discussed at the latest board meeting and there was a need for the citizens to submit letters in order to garner support for the grant. As a citizen of Lumberton, I had a problem with this request. I find it odd that the board wanted the help of the citizens they pass the burden to year after year. I have no problem with the water rate being raised. As a matter of fact, they are supposed to raise the water rate each year because the water and sewer department has to be self-sufficient. Well, the uncaring, heartless elected officials of Lumberton did not think it was enough to raise the water rates, but they also voted to take away 1,000/per month from each citizen; ensuring that every citizen of Lumberton pays the maximum amount for water/sewer services. We have those that were elected to represent the citizens of Lumberton but instead of doing what was best for the citizens, they raised the rates and took away an allotment of gallons to cover the fact that they did not monitor the coiffeurs of the city. So what was the solution, pass the debt on to the citizens. And for that reason, I was hesitant to write any letter in support of getting a grant for the City of Lumberton. I felt it was the ultimate show of hypocrisy. They continue to take from the citizens but then they want the citizens to give in order for the city to receive grants. No sir. Also, they announced the need for the letters and then there were alderpersons that specifically wanted the matter addressed or presented to the public by Mrs. Bogle. Not only do you need something from the citizens but you're being petty in the matter as well. If you wanted the word spread, they you should want it spread over every avenue possible. Yet, the board members want to make a point in their passive aggressive manner, and try to prove they did not want their plea to be recorded in the pages of the Lumberton Informer and I was more than willing to grant them their request. Let's be clear, every person on that board is aware of what's written in this blog. They're either reading it or having it read to them. The fact that you are so small minded that you want to cut off your nose to smite your face, shows that this board had a long way to grow and until they decide to emerge from the pool of bitterness, they will never be able to move this city forward. In case you were wondering, there is still time to submit a letter in support of this grant, but it must be submitted to city hall before noon on 4/23/2014.
Over the Easter holiday, I decided to go to visit the Love's Addition cemetery. I knew Danny Davis had presented a public works employee to the board for termination and they granted him his request. I also knew that the person that was terminated was frequently seen mowing the grass. I generally go over to the cemetery to clean my great grandparent’s graves. They have been deceased for over thirty years and their gravestones need a good cleaning every now and then. Now this is not a tutorial in cleaning grave markers, but a few years ago, I discovered that a soft brush (preferably one with a handle) and ammonia were good for cleaning grave stones. Please refrain from using bleach, the elements in the bleach could damage the stone. Also, if you don't have ammonia, vodka could be used instead. Don't ask me how I know? But since this blog post was not about techniques in cleaning gravestones, I will get back to the original subject matter. I went to the cemetery to see if the area had been mowed. I know it was a holiday and a lot of people return home during this time and a lot of people visit the graves of their relatives as well. As I turned the corner, it looked like the grass had not been cut this season. Being the person that I am, I immediately went to the other city owned cemetery to see if the grass had been cut there or had it been neglected like the one located in Love's Addition. When I arrived at the cemetery across from the Lumberton High School, I could tell that the grass had been cut this season, but the areas around the graves had not been weeded. It seems like they ran out of time and could not complete the work but it was still in far better shape that the horrific condition of the other cemetery. Year after year, we have this problem. It seems that more care and attention is provided to one cemetery while others go neglected. As far as I know, those who have loved ones buried in Love's Addition do not love them any less than those that are buried in the Lumberton municipal cemetery. I called and left several messages for Danny Davis to discuss this matter but he has yet to return my calls. I don't know the reason why the person was terminated but a lack of workers in not a viable excuse for this work not getting completed. This has been going on for years and to be honest, they never bothered to give an excuse. For the most part, Danny Davis would say, "we just haven't had time to get around to that area" and leave it at that. Well, that lack of concern is not going to wash any longer. Either get it done in the same manner as you do the other cemetery or we need to get some people in place that can get the work done. I will present my pictures and letters to the mayor and board of alderpersons and hopefully, they will take a more proactive role than the previous boards. There is a lot of grass in Lumberton and they are aware of that every year. Most of the public works department employees have been there for years. By now, they should be well versed in time management.
Another issue that is taking place in the City of Lumberton is the grant application for the water and sewer department. It was discussed at the latest board meeting and there was a need for the citizens to submit letters in order to garner support for the grant. As a citizen of Lumberton, I had a problem with this request. I find it odd that the board wanted the help of the citizens they pass the burden to year after year. I have no problem with the water rate being raised. As a matter of fact, they are supposed to raise the water rate each year because the water and sewer department has to be self-sufficient. Well, the uncaring, heartless elected officials of Lumberton did not think it was enough to raise the water rates, but they also voted to take away 1,000/per month from each citizen; ensuring that every citizen of Lumberton pays the maximum amount for water/sewer services. We have those that were elected to represent the citizens of Lumberton but instead of doing what was best for the citizens, they raised the rates and took away an allotment of gallons to cover the fact that they did not monitor the coiffeurs of the city. So what was the solution, pass the debt on to the citizens. And for that reason, I was hesitant to write any letter in support of getting a grant for the City of Lumberton. I felt it was the ultimate show of hypocrisy. They continue to take from the citizens but then they want the citizens to give in order for the city to receive grants. No sir. Also, they announced the need for the letters and then there were alderpersons that specifically wanted the matter addressed or presented to the public by Mrs. Bogle. Not only do you need something from the citizens but you're being petty in the matter as well. If you wanted the word spread, they you should want it spread over every avenue possible. Yet, the board members want to make a point in their passive aggressive manner, and try to prove they did not want their plea to be recorded in the pages of the Lumberton Informer and I was more than willing to grant them their request. Let's be clear, every person on that board is aware of what's written in this blog. They're either reading it or having it read to them. The fact that you are so small minded that you want to cut off your nose to smite your face, shows that this board had a long way to grow and until they decide to emerge from the pool of bitterness, they will never be able to move this city forward. In case you were wondering, there is still time to submit a letter in support of this grant, but it must be submitted to city hall before noon on 4/23/2014.
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