Warrant article 24 is needed to amend a lease agreement from one year to 10 years, it’s real simple. The town can’t enter into a 10-year lease without voter approval. Having to renew the lease yearly will cost more money; a 10-year lease gives the town a good discount. The lease is to put equipment, (already paid for with ARPA funding and Fund balance monies, approved by the Department of Revenue), on a tower to provide better communications between our emergency services and MACC Base. Some say this is a “no means no” issue. Those who do either don’t understand the RSA or have a personal agenda. This is an incredibly cost-effective fix to the problem that our emergency services personnel (Police, Fire, Ambulance, and Public Works) have had for years. In many locations in Milford, our personnel can’t be heard when they are on calls. Communication gets dropped, backup, if needed, may not be provided, and the safety of our emergency personnel and the public is compromised.

As a wife of a 20-year veteran Police Officer (retired) and the mother of an Alaskan State Trooper, I know how much effective communication is relied upon for safety reasons, not only for emergency personnel but for the public. It’s a crazy world out there and those protecting us need to be safe. Imagine not having a call go through for someone in need of an Ambulance or Fire vehicle. Imagine an officer trying to break up a fight with no backup to help him.

A previous editorial in February stated that Milford refuses to investigate existing issues, that comment is incorrect and misleading. Milford has been investigating existing issues for several years. The article also stated that there are other alternatives, but failed to mention what those alternatives were, or what they would cost the taxpayers. The person who wrote the other article also failed to mention that she has a lawsuit against the town. Apparently, she disagrees with the United States Government on how we can use ARPA funding, she disagrees with the Department of Revenue on how we can use our fund balance, and she disagrees with our local governing authority, on well, everything. One person, not elected to any local office, is telling the rest of the community that she knows better than the rest of us. This lease will save lives.

Thank you.