LETTER: County Board candidate supports nursing home

To the editor:

My name is Travis Schachtner and I am running for District 1 County Supervisor. The reason that I am running is because as a veteran I did not defend this country to see the will of the people ignored, which many on the board insist on doing. The greatest example of this complete disregard for the will of the people is how many on the board attack the New Richmond Health Center.

St. Croix County has a proud and honorable tradition of aiding those in need and for more than 100 years the New Richmond Health Center has stood, in one way or another, as a shining example of this. Many on the current county board, however, take the position that we need to get out of the nursing home business.

To reach this goal the New Richmond Health Center needs to be shown as to be a bad business. I am sorry but taking care of those in our community that have nowhere else to turn is not a business, it is a moral obligation.

It is not the government’s job to make a profit; it is there to provide essential services to the community. Police, fire, teachers, EMT’s, nurses, doctors, anyone serving or has served in any branch of the military, and all the people who support them work together to build a stronger community.

These are people that many, including myself, hold in high regard. They are not there to give aid to businesses but to the people. They have an understanding that a strong community builds strong business. They understand that the strength of businesses and communities rests on the shoulders of the workers. There are many people in office at every level that could learn a lesson from their efforts. As someone who was raised in a family that holds this lesson dear, it is something I will never forget.

I believe that we are on the precipice of showing our greatness as a community. However, in order to achieve that greatness we need to be laying the ground work now. There are going to be growing pains as people’s views are challenged. In all actuality that challenge, if respected, is what keeps our growth on the right path. If we are not willing to lay the ground work now then we are going to be ill prepared for what lies ahead of us which will cause rash and expensive decisions to be made. Unfortunately this will prevent generations from reaching their true potential as they try to recover from our hasty decisions.

We need people in office, at every level, who are willing to step up and take on this task. That is why I am asking for your vote on April 3rd.

If you are interested in a discussion on the issues that interest you, I have a Facebook page Travis Schachtner for District 1 St. Croix County Supervisor, please join the conversation.

Travis Schachtner

Somerset

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion