Wishful thinking

Dear Editor,

I want to thank the Pickens County Courier for its news story on the Hagood Mill. The grist mill and its volunteers are a local treasure we all want to see preserved as is, and I look forward to reading your articles on the meeting at county council.

I was disappointed that more than 100 attended the meeting, but the county council limited the number who could speak. This was undemocratic. I rarely go to public meetings, but when I do, I usually need to get something off my chest.

Councilman Wes Hendricks’ lecture on volunteerism was interesting. He kept saying “we the volunteers.” We the volunteers need to have it in our heart. The message was “y’all need to do this without complaining to us.” He is not volunteering. County councilmen are paid handsomely, plus they are offered medical benefits.

I would have loved them to say, “we are giving up our salaries on county council, will volunteer our time and are donating the money to the Hagood Mill,” but that would have been wishful thinking.

Elizabeth Ellenburg

Six Mile