Wednesday, May 14, 2003

To the Fayette County Commission: We commend you for your hard work for Fayette County and especially for the beautiful new Justice Center.

As a part of that contract, the former library building would be demolished because some people in the neighborhood objected to looking at the jail and in its place a berm would be built. May we suggest an alternative: A row of Leyland cypress trees would be much less expensive than a berm, would be more attractive, and would not require the maintenance of a berm. The biggest advantage is that the building could be maintained and used by one of the many organizations in the county that desperately need more space.

"Waste not, want not" is an adage we learned in our childhood. I understand that building cost around $200,000 when it was first built less than 20 years ago. As a taxpaying citizen, I hate to see such a valuable asset hauled away to the dump when it is badly needed.

The contract with the Justice Center builder says that this building would become the property of the contractor "when it is demolished." Could that contract not be renegotiated so that we have a win-win situation: Neighbors would look at beautiful trees, the building would be maintained and put to good use, and you, the County Commissioners, would be acclaimed for saving the taxpayers' money?

Frances Reeves

Fayetteville