Letters to the editor for April 21

April 21, 2008 01:38 pm

— My name is Tammy Beard and I work for the Cherokee County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3. I have worked there for five years. Our office is below substandard. It is very unhealthy because of all the flood damage we have suffered through the years.
I have been to numerous training seminars that teach us about the safety of our office, but our office is not safe. There is only one way in and one way out.
The office has such a bad odor that I am sick nearly every day with severe sinus headaches and soar throats and very nauseated at my stomach. We cannot get he county commissioners or the county judge to do anything about it except to say ‘You just have to deal with it.’ I am getting sicker every day and do not even want to go to work because I know by the end of the day, I am going to feel worse than ever. County health officials won’t do anything about it because, of course, it is a county office.
We need a safe and healthy work environment to serve the people of Cherokee County. Our office isn’t even safe enough for the public to enter due to the mold and mildew that would be found in the walls — if we could get the office inspected. I am going to go outside this county to get a licensed inspector to come and inspect this office and when they find the mold and mildew growing in the walls and if nothing is done about the problem at that time, I will take further action.
This situation is not right, nor is it tolerable. County officials understand this, but they refuse to take corrective action. Instead they use quick fixes here and there which do not remedy the problem, the smell or my breathing and sinus troubles.
I am writing this letter to let the public know just how corrupt and wrong things are in this county. I am not worried about whether I lose my vote or my job. I am not running for any public office anymore, anyway, because there is so much corruption and wrongdoing that I want no part of. I am going to quit my job if I can’t be provided with a safe and healthy working environment.

Tammy Beard
Jacksonville