Saving jobs

The city of Whitefish should be commended for its recent decision to not lay off firefighters or police officers this year. Whitefish has worked hard to develop a first-rate fire department with a new station and emergency services center, and it would be wrong to go backward now.

Public safety is essential to the Whitefish quality of life, and it's false economy to lay off those who protect the community since the cost of training a laid-off firefighter or police officer is effectively wasted and never recouped.

Many people deserve credit for this important decision, including the city manager, city council and mayor, and the Whitefish Rural Fire Service Area Board. It shows what can be done when people work together for the common good.

Scott Alexander, leader of the Whitefish firefighters union, deserves special recognition and credit for helping secure wage concessions from firefighters that made it financially feasible for the city to avoid firefighter layoffs. This was truly above and beyond the call of duty for all Whitefish firefighters.

As a person who lives outside the city limits and within the rural fire service area, I'm grateful that the Whitefish Fire Department protects our community. The men and women at the Whitefish Fire Department are true professionals who deserve our continued support and respect, even in hard times.

Mike Frost

Whitefish