LETTERS: TAMMS KEEPS COSTS DOWN

To the editor:

I am serving my 20th year as a member of the Tamms, Ill., Village Board. I was one of the board members who voted against the grant for additional police officers, and I am writing this letter in response to the article in the Southeast Missourian May 7, "Tamms residents want police."

First, let's deal with the two police officers we now have in Tamms. In the article, Officer Don Martin states that village crime has dramatically risen over the past five years. If this is, in fact, true, why didn't the residents complain before now? Could it be they were told to complain by someone? Two tickets have been issued over the past two months. This does not show me that we have an increase in village crime.

A double murder-robbery in which a lady was severely beaten took place a few weeks ago north of Tamms in Alexander County (not within the corporate limits of Tamms). Our village police had no jurisdiction at this place of business. I talked to several police officers, including state officers, and they all assured me that no amount of officers would prevent this kind of murder or crime.

In answer to the 24-hour police protection question, we have 24-hour protection in Tamms and have had for many years. Officers are told when they are hired that they are on call 24 hours a day -- on call, not on duty.

Let's address the Cops Universal Hiring Grant. The grant is a match-requirement grant, which means the citizens of Tamms would have to come up with part of the money. Also, three years after hiring additional officers, the village would have to pay 100 percent of salaries and benefits. In order to do this, gas rates would have to be raised, because 99 percent of our revenue to operate the village comes from natural gas.

Finally, just like the Boy Scout, I feel we should be prepared, but I feel we should be prepared to maintain lower taxes and lower rates for village services to our citizens, not only today, but also tomorrow (our children and grandchildren). I feel that instead of complaining and asking the village to spend thousands of additional dollars, the two officers should pitch in with the rest of us so that we can keep taxes and utility rates down for everyone.

CARL L. HILEMAN

Village Board Member

Tamms, Ill.