The Knock on Public Employees

When you go to the deli counter, how do you know that the ham or cheese weighed is exactly what the scale says? At the gas station is the number of gallons on the pump exactly what goes into your tank? When ordering from a menu, do you wonder when the kitchen or food was last inspected? When your pre-schooler gets on a park swing happily waiting for you to give them a push, you probably take for granted that the equipment has been thoroughly checked for safety.

 It’s easy to move through any average day taking things for granted, forgetting   that dedicated public employees made sure things are working the way they should. Wherever someone has checked an elevator, the water or air quality, registered a deed, plowed a road, removed mounds of fallen leaves from a roadway, issued a driver’s license or enforced a zoning rule, public employees have been on the job. The quality of a community’s schools and environment are a matter not only of property values, but also public safety. 

We residents are fortunate to have a community Police force among the top accredited Departments in Pennsylvania.  At the Feb. 16 Supervisor’s meeting presented an excellent report on many successful community programs the Department provides.  Forks Police had a 154% increase in successful apprehensions and convictions in 2011 responding to over 9,000 calls.  Whether it’s effective, highly-trained Police Officers, our hard-working Public Works crews out day and night in all kinds of weather or the Municipal office staff answering questions, paying bills and issuing permits, Forks public employees can take pride in the work they do every day for all of us. 

Many public jobs go unnoticed and thankless until something isn’t done, goes wrong or goes away.  If, as is likely, serious cutbacks in postal service end Saturday mail deliveries and close Post Offices, many people will be in for a rude awakening.

 When recognizing March as Women’s History Month in 2011, Supervisors saluted the over 150 years of service performed by the then nine women Township employees.  We think there is too much bashing of public employees going on these days.  Some Governors have wrongly eliminated collective bargaining rights for America’s dedicated teachers, public health nurses, police officers, fire fighters, school cafeteria workers, public works crews, environmental protection staff, school bus drivers, social service workers, food inspectors and others.  These folks were not responsible for the catastrophic mess made by big banks and Wall Street.  

Often people recognize that “freedom isn’t free.”  Neither are effective, quality public services.  The vast majority of public workers have earned our respect and deserve to be treated fairly.  They are our neighbors down the street who pay the same taxes we do and have the same community pride.  To all Forks residents who are public employees, federal, state or local, we salute your service and appreciate every day your putting .