Letters To The Editor

Levies needed
in township

To the editor: I support both the fire renewal levy and the new five-year EMS levy for Lake Township.
I spent more than 20 years as a firefighter and 40 years as a paramedic, in addition to 49 years in law enforcement. I can tell you that in all three areas of public safety, seconds can count.
Yes, I understand those who think we are paying enough taxes, but both these levies can mean the difference between life and death. Even if you are a healthy person, that can change in an instant.
If you and/or a member of your family are involved in a car crash, regardless of who is at fault, you may need both fire and EMS to respond. You may not be able to wait the minutes it may take for a neighboring fire and EMS department to get there.
Chances are that in the next few years, you or someone you know may need fire and EMS.
Right now there are only a limited number of firefighters and EMTs and paramedics for every department in the area that wants and needs them. It is a very competitive market. Lake Township needs the money to afford to have the staffing it needs to ensure our residents have an adequate number of staff.
If you own a business or industry that is looking to set up shop in Lake Township, do you want to locate in an area that doesn't support public safety forces? The same goes for people who want to move here. Remember, the more businesses and residents we have to pay for safety forces, the bigger the tax base and the lower the taxes each will have to pay.
Please think of these points as you decide to vote yes or no on these very important levies.
Ron Craig
Lake Township