Mar 8, 2017 2 min read

The residents of Washington County will receive a great disservice by selling the Washington County Health Center.

It is the last place of refuge for our poor, aged, terminally ill and striken neighbors, relatives and veterans. We know it is expensive, but it still remains an efficient and caring place.

The health center is as vital to our county as the courthouse, jail, roads and parks. It is part of our infrastructure that our officials are elected to keep viable, not to sell.

My county tax increased by 39 percent in what was advertised as a “neutral” reassessment. If my taxes reflect what other property owners are facing, there surely should be funds available to keep the health center and make repairs to it.

I have had my grandmother, mother and father in other care facilities in their final years. None of these compare to the quality of care my mother-in-law is receiving at the health center and the professionalism of the staff.

It was reported in the Observer-Reporter that a 3 percent wage increase has been granted to the county’s salaried employees. They may well spend $1 million to sell the health center, while they ignore its maintenance and refuse to bargain in good faith with its employees who are working without a contract.

Maybe if they are re-elected, the county’s commissioners will try to privatize our courthouse or jail.

Richard Watson

Washington