(Letter to the Editor - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

The average salary of residents in Parkersburg is less than $35,000. Yet, the Mayor who makes over $90,000, wants to increase the cost of trash pickup without recycling and only give the sanitation workers an increase of $2 an hour. One of my many questions is what kind of benefits do these workers receive? Why would each household have to pay $4 for trash pickup without recycling pickup? They are paying more for less service.

Unfortunately, the mayor and some council members are following the book published by ALEC that wants to privatize services provided by the government.

When I moved to Wood County I thought I was moving to a somewhat stable community with decent healthcare facilities, schools, roads, libraries. I was somewhat disappointed that there was not a public transportation system for the county. I live where there is no recycling pickup and was jealous of the residents of Parkersburg but now I feel sorry for them.

This state keeps losing population and will continue to do so if the governments of the county, city and state keep misusing our tax dollars.

Margaret M. Meeker

Williamstown