The Christmas Spirit

There has been a certain pleasantness in not dwelling upon the Fire District's affairs of the past few weeks but today a notice arrived that they would be meeting again this Wednesday at 7 p.m.  Their normal meeting time is the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m., but they also have numerous 'special' meetings on other Wednesdays, and meetings at other times of the day on various Wednesdays or even other days in order to suit their own varied schedules.

Thus, it appeared that they might be open to a little modification since their meeting conflicted with the Elementary School's Christmas Program, one of the very well-attended events on the Point each year.  The kids practice for weeks, volunteers as well as teachers help with costumes and music and dramatic arts. It's a big deal.  I would be very sorry to miss it;  indeed, I have not missed it in all the years I have lived here.

So, when someone wrote the Commissioners an email inquiring whether there could be some leeway to hold the meeting at a different day or time (e.g., starting on Wednesday at 8, an hour later than the usual time and after the kids' show was over), I was pretty impressed by the Ebenezer Scrooge-style response from Commissioner Riffle:

"Your thoughts are welcome........However we are a County commission and have to schedule our regular meetings annually  by law. The primary school has the liberty of scheduling whenever. Let them change."

And let them eat cake while they're at it.

Mr. Meursing and Mr. Riffle frequently remind local residents that if we write to them, anything we say is a public record.  I'm happy to assume that anything they write back is also a public record because Mr. Meursing, too, wanted to convey his good wishes to those of us requesting a little flexibility on their parts:

"What in heavens does it take for you and your buddies to adapt some
flexibility in your lives....live and let live comes to mind
immediately....Stan is absolutely correct regarding the meeting schedule,
there is protocol to be followed and that is what this commission is
doing....life is full of choices, and it seems some of you will have to
pursue this on Wednesday....good luck....bill m"

And then, in case we hadn't understood his message, he followed up with a second one:

"Grow up children, there are other folks to be considered.....the time and date stand and will not be changed....bill m..."

God bless us, Every One!" said Tiny Tim.

And if you're around the Point and not going to the kid's Christmas program, you might drop in at the Firehall this Wednesday at 7 pm so someone will be keeping an eye on those two to let us know whether they are being naughty or nice.