No cameras

Thank you to all who attended the recent commissioner’s meeting to oppose the brazen decision of our sheriff to install invasive and unwanted police spy cameras around our county. I think it is safe to say that the overwhelming majority of residents are opposed to the sheriff infringing on their privacy. Unfortunately, it seems that Ozark County officials would rather take the approach that it is better to ask forgiveness than to ask for permission. 

In response to last week’s newspaper article, I found it very condescending and insulting how Commissioner Newton tried to minimize Mrs. Blache’s valid concerns by smugly using the bill-paying responsibilities we pay the commissioners to do as an attempted counterargument. Really? 

We do not elect commissioners for obtuse, arrogant reactions to heartfelt concerns. We expect their management of day-to-day business to be handled, but if an unusually important or expensive issue arises, we simply want to be heard, informed and included in the vote or discussion. 

A good example of this would be the failed federal ICE contract the commissioners and county clerk rubber-stamped for the sheriff that has squeezed the county general revenue funds, reduced police focus on local crime and turned our deputies into transportation officers for D.C. political interests. No discussion, vote or even so much as a care to what the community wanted. 

Now it’s foreign-made spy cameras being shoved down our throats! Everyone in Ozark County loves the simple, quiet life here. This is the reason we live here. No police “surveillance state” or big government is wanted or needed here. Our sheriff either does not know that or does not care about our values because he is inviting as much big government as possible to our quaint little town. We don’t want it, sheriff!

Arthur Meyer, 

Wasola