To the editor:

Be careful if you are on the south pier this year.  Why? Your county commissioners can spend $11 million plus for land and a building to eventually comprise a county campus, but they can’t find $40 each for less than 10 life rings on the pier.
What is the cost of one life? A few dollars for life rings can offset the possible lawsuits if they aren’t provided.
In a newsletter, Dave Pagel, reports that the Natural Resources Trust Fund is devoting $300,000 toward improvements at Silver Beach County Park. Since 1976, the trust fund has awarded more than $965 million in grants, including $14.2 million in Berrien County.”
It seems to me that if that much money is spent to bring tourists here, we, as the responsible citizens of Berrien County, should be at least able to provide for basic safety of those who use our resources and and spend their money in Berrien County. If the county doesn’t have funds for those few life rings, I am sure that many community groups such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4 H, Optimists and Kiwanis could provide a couple of those rings. All of those organizations are concerned with the lives of children and those children would more than likely be the most vulnerable on the pier.
Next time you are close to the pier, count the fishermen. An all-species fishing license for residents is $28 and for non-residents is $42. Also available for the tourist are 24- and 72-hour licenses. Do the math for yourself. If those people want to fish, they should at least have a few life rings available for their safety.
I for one don’t want anyone from my family even on that pier without those life rings.
Contact your Berrien County Commissioner and tell them to get off the stick and provide those few life rings on that pier and have someone monitor if they are missing and replace them! They and all Berrien County residents could be liable for a life if they aren’t available. It seems a small price to pay to help save a life.

Janet Personette
Niles