When Waves of Fun opened for the 2007 season, there was a glaring omission: The Kiddie Pool. That was a stupid mistake caused by some selfish politicians. We can't let those fools play dirty politics with our little children anymore.

According to Putnam County Commissioners Stephen H. "Steve" Andes, and Raymond “Joe” Haynes, the Kiddie Pool couldn’t be built because the Parks and Recreation Commission is in debt.

Andes and Haynes are wrong. Very wrong! They are misleading the public because. Andes and Haynes aren’t telling the truth. Again.

Yes, there were some cost-over-runs involved with a picnic shelter that was recently built. However, there is a home that was to be sold to pay for those overruns. The Good family home was purchased with the picnic shelter land. It is being rented out for less than its loan payment and is costing Putnam County money.

And the debt on the picnic shelter is less than $50,000, according to Parks and Recreation Director Scott Williamson.

The former Parks and Recreation Commissioners and their award-winning Director, Cordie Hudkins, Jr., planned to sell the Good house to pay off the debt. This is mart planning, but it was squelched by the stupidity of Andes, former Commissioner James H. “Jim” Caruthers, and Haynes.

Meanwhile, Andes and Haynes, and Parks and Recreation Commissioner Bill Byus try to mislead you into believing that Putnam County can’t afford the Kiddie Pool. What Putnam County really can’t afford is another day with Andes, Byus, and Haynes spinning half-truths.

Here’s a history lesson that they aren’t teaching.

Several years ago, the people of Putnam County were promised a much-needed Kiddie Pool, a $250,000 grant was obtained, plans were made, but then the Clueless Commission of Andes, Haynes, and Caruthers screwed things up.

Not satisfied with a progressive Parks and Recreation Commission, the Amish Quadruplets, Steve Andes, Jim Caruthers, Joe Haynes, and Bill Byus, set out to set back Putnam County Parks and Recreation into the 1950’s and ruin things for our kids.

Andes, Caruthers and Haynes replaced Sally Holliday, the progressive founder of Putnam County Parks as well as her forward-thinking commissioners. In their place, they appointed Bill Byus and a group of backwards-thinking commissioners. These commissioners are simply political pawns of Andes and Haynes, two of the most backward commissioners in the history of Putnam County.

You need to know that this backwards group turned down the $250,000 grant to build the Kiddie Pool. Only fools turn down $250,000.  Their lame excuse is that they needed to raise matching funds. But the lame new commissioners never attempted to raise any matching funds. The Putnam County Commission should have matched the money. But Commissioners Andes, Byus, and Haynes, don’t know a good idea when it stares them in the face. Private businesses could have made contributions. The media could have helped raise the money. But we were never asked.

So the Kiddie pool is "on hold." Blame Andes, Byus, former Commissioner Caruthers, and Haynes. Blame the mean-spirited commissioners for screwing the kids.

We need a stronger Parks and Recreation system. We don’t need backwards people that hold back progress. We don’t need Andes, Byus, or Haynes.

Waves of Fun already makes a profit. It attracts people to Putnam County from other counties and states. The Kiddie Pool will attract more visitors to Putnam County bringing more money. This is great for parks as well as local businesses.

Introducing children to swimming is a great idea. Physical fitness is great in a state where childhood obesity is a huge problem. It is cheaper to provide recreation for children than incarcerate them when they get into trouble.

Putnam County is a family community. Refusing to build the Kiddie Pool is an attack on Putnam County families and our children by a few old men who forgot how to have fun decades ago-if they ever knew how to enjoy life at all!

The answers are clear: Sell the Good House to pay off the picnic shelter debt. Match the $250,000 grant with a combination of county tax dollars and private donations. Build the Kiddie Pool by May 1^st.  We will quickly make back the $250,000. Do the right things for Putnam County and our children. Andes, Byus, and Haynes need to do Putnam County a favor and resign. They are bad for Putnam County!