Letters - Dec. 24, 2009

Proud

I commend Gazette reporter Jeslyn Lemke for her thorough job of reporting about Michael Echanove and the “horrific” scandal of a WSU employee sending emails and making phone calls while at work.

Lemke certainly showed up the very seasoned Lewiston Morning Tribune reporter who did not give any background information in his Dec. 18 story.

The audit of email and telephone use was not made because WSU was concerned about Michael’s job performance there.

If WSU had a concern, they would have initiated the audit. Instead, an audit was made because a frustrated individual is desperate to cast doubt on Michael’s performance as Palouse mayor.

Performance in his lucrative $250 a month job as mayor has nothing to do with his job performance at WSU!

Steve McGehee has tried many avenues to make Michael look bad, and keeps getting thwarted because his claims are so ludicrous. So he stooped lower, hoping to hurt him at his WSU job.

Thanks to Jeslyn’s reporting, readers can know “the rest of the story”. Hopefully WSU will show some loyalty to a faithful 26-year employee.

I appreciate Michael’s dedication as mayor, and the many volunteer activities he’s involved with. Our part of the world is a much better place because of Michael, and WSU should be proud to have him as an employee, just as I and many others are proud to have him as mayor of our Palouse.

Janet Barstow,

Palouse

Lucky town

I’ve worked with Michael Echanove at WSU Information Technology Services Mainframe Support for more than 17 years. During all this time, he has been a fine example of what Public Service is and should be about. Never once during this time have his outside interests been a factor preventing him from accomplishing his assigned duties. Whatever technical violations this apparently malicious intended complaint has uncovered, there was never any actual or intended harm to WSU or the State of Washington.

Palouse is a very lucky town. Most towns in Washington would like to be blessed with a Mayor as caring and capable as Michael Echanove. I’ve lived on the Palouse for the better part of 33 years. I remember the town of Palouse before Michael. It was empty and dying. I know he isn’t the only reason it is the vibrant place it is now (many others helped), but I don’t think it would be a small fraction of that without him.

I have also reviewed all material placed on the web by the complainant. I see no evidence of malfeasance, misfeasance or neglect. At worst, there are some minor missing dotted ‘I’s or crossed ‘T’s. Few of us are perfect enough to thread the minutia of every bureaucratic form and regulation.

Dave Gibney,

Pullman

Concern

We would like to express our concern over recent actions and statements of Commissioners Partch and O’Neill while putting together the 2010 budget.

The commission is tasked with overseeing a lot of county services. While we as taxpayers benefit from, enjoy and expect many of those services, there are two that have a potentially threatening impact on our day-to-day life. Both of those services fall under one distinct category, Public Safety. The sheriff’s Office and the Road Department are the two county departments that we expect to respond in the darkest times. We are well-served by both departments and in our opinion they are understaffed and underpaid for the services they provide.

We are especially concerned about the recent attacks on the sheriff and the budget he has prepared. We elected a very competent sheriff. It is his job to determine the cost of our safety and the safety of his department.

The sheriff himself has found the county revenue sources through housing prisoners. We elected commissioners to figure out how to fund our needs through the sheriff’s budget. If the commissioners can’t figure out how to fund the public safety needs of our county at this point in time, our county does have a three million dollar reserve fund.

Perhaps it is time commissioners Partch and O’Neill did a ride-along. Our sheriff’s Office is staffed by approximately 18 officers that are high quality people who work very hard, often in ugly conditions, to provide for our safety. They need support, not budget cuts.

We are requesting that the commissioners fund the budget that Sheriff Myers has prepared.

Eric Reiber

“Jayme” Marie Reiber,

Pullman