Lance: To the South Butler County teachers union. We agree with school district negotiators that the union's proposal on health care contributions is ridiculous. Teachers now contribute only $10 a month -- and they obviously are not negotiating in good faith with a proposal to reduce that amount. Health care costs are skyrocketing for everyone. Workers in the private sector are paying average contributions of $220 a month for individual coverage and $500 for family insurance, according to the Kaiser Foundation. Other teachers unions in the region have agreed to contributions of as much as $80 a month. So let's get serious. It's time public employees begin to share in the health care costs that taxpayers have been picking up for them. Laurel: To Highlands School Board. It is finally addressing frequent absences by board director Mark Peck. A majority of the board voted this week to put the issue on the agenda for Monday. Last year, Peck said he had a medical condition that prevented him from attending about 50 percent of the meetings in 2006 and 2007. And now he now has a job that often takes him out of town. He does vote by phone on important issues -- but that isn't being an active school board member. It's unfair to the public and his fellow board members for him to remain. This isn't personal. It's business. And we disagree that only the voters should remove him. That means waiting for his four-year term to end. Laurel: To limiting motorists from crossing busy Tarentum Bridge Road. New Kensington officials want to prevent drivers on residential Carl Avenue from making left-hand turns or crossing the five-lane highway. Residents say motorists are trying to avoid the traffic lights at Freeport Road or Caldwell Avenue. But it is a dangerous move and several accidents have occurred. Laurel: To Allegheny Township supervisors. They are reminding seniors in their township that many qualified people have not filed for their federal stimulus checks. That's true in most of our towns. Everyone has to file a 2007 federal income tax form to get the $300-$600 stimulus. But since many seniors don't work, they often don't file a federal income tax form. It's not too late. Lance: To Harmar supervisors. They should include a brief explanation of what legal fees are being spent for when residents ask to see budget expenditures. We're for openness in government wherever possible. Taxpayers pay the bills. They need to know what they are paying for!

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