Letters to the editor, Nov. 29, 2008
Administrator should not have fire directorIgnoring oversight committees is bad practice. By state statute, the Sauk County Board of Health is the oversight committee for the Public Health Department.
So, why did Administrative Coordinator, Kathy Schauf fire Michael Steinhauer, Public Health Department director/health officer, only hours before his probation was over, without the knowledge of the Board of Health, and without so much as a single Board of Health evaluation?
Michael Steinhauer came to Sauk County extremely qualified to lead the Public Health Department. By his record, he did not do things rashly, and it's difficult for me to believe that he would have thrown his whole career away for the things he was accused of doing. He has a Masters Degree in Public Health from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. His distinctive 30+ year health care career includes extensive work in occupational therapy.
He was a guest editor of several professional journals, and he helped author and shepherd new administrative rules for occupational therapy to become a licensed profession in Wisconsin. He developed a home health care program, owned and operated a home health agency and established a management consulting firm for the long term care industry. He was appointed to several prominent state and federal occupational therapy and home health associations/advisory committees. As section chief for resident care review for Wisconsin, he led a staff of 135 employees in six regional offices. He was inducted into "Who's Who in Health and Human Services" and "Who's Who of American Business Leaders."
It was an honor to serve with Steinhauer. He made the health department more proactive and visible. In the 10 months he was with Sauk County, he brought new programs and grants to the county, addressed public health issues not formerly managed, handled Sauk County's recent flooding in an exemplary manner, and improved staff morale.
The Sauk County Board of Supervisors relies heavily on its oversight committees but, apparently, only when administration feels like consulting with them.
Rose White, Sauk City, immediate past chair, Sauk County Board of Health
Keep writing and don't buckle to criticism
I'm sorry to read that Joan Forsythe has allowed herself to be silenced by a few unkind words published in a newspaper. There are thousands of people in this area who read the Dells Events, and it is impossible to please all of them. I write to please myself, not the Smitbottoms of the world. It's hard to figure just where his tastes lie.
If he doesn't like what others write, he can skip anything with their name on it and go on with his life. I couldn't care less whether he likes me, hates me or is bored by me.
A week ago, I was happily unaware of his existence, and in another week I will have forgotten him. But I certainly won't shut up just because he wants me to. I'm only interested in the opinion of people I respect.
As I see it, the problem is not that people disagree, it's that they are afraid.
They are afraid to speak up and take a chance on being dissed by some sort of Smitbottom, not realizing that it is really no worse than being nibbled on the ankle by a duck.
Keep writing, Joan, and ignore the gnats. Can you imagine what a letters-to-the-editor column with nothing but thanks to everyone who supported some organization's pancake-breakfast fund raiser would be like?
Alan V. Osborn, Wisconsin Dells
Police officers actions besmirched Dells
The actions of your two supposed police officers is quite horrific. You should be proud. The entire country now knows what kind of scum is born and raised in the Dells. You have your two great examples of humanity to show the world. How pitiful! I hope you will reward them appropriately. You will certainly reward the National Guard troops with a significant amount of your tax money. You can thank your wonderful police department for that. I don't really expect your paper will publish this but thanks for letting me vent.
Gary Burton, Kershaw, S.C.