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July 22, 2010

Anonymous Suwannee Democrat The Suwannee Democrat Thu Jul 22, 2010, 05:16 PM EDT

Live Oak — Back in January we laid out five editorial objectives for the year -- projects or ideas we endorse and planned to support:

1. Legalization of liquor in Suwannee County;

2. Consolidation of city and county fire services;

3. Downtown revitalization;

4. Perimeter Road project;

5. Better fire protection for Dowling Park.

Our number 1 item -- going wet -- won’t happen in 2010. State election laws being what they are, the window of opportunity has closed, and we’ll likely take up the issue again in 2011.

Number 2, consolidation of fire services, remains in play. As you recall, we weren’t out to cut services (or jobs), just administrative costs. This one’s still a political hot potato, but at least local officials have been willing to listen.

Numbers 3 and 4 are ongoing projects to which we pledged our continued support. We’re glad to report continued progress on both.

It’s number 5 we’re ready to count as an unqualified win. On Tuesday the county commission gave final approval to a joint venture with the Advent Christian Village to station paid professional firefighters in Dowling Park -- a move long overdue. And it’s not just the Village that will benefit. Folks throughout western Suwannee County will sleep better once the new station’s up and running.

Granted, it’s an expensive venture, and just when things are tight. Start-up costs alone exceed $500,000, even with a sizable contribution from the Village. No doubt there are those who object.

But while some public expenditures qualify as iffy at best, we don’t count fire and police protection among them. If saving the lives of its citizens isn’t a legitimate function of government, we're not sure what is.

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