Letter to the Editor: Seniors Can't Afford Library Project

It is time for the people to wake up and look carefully at the debt exclusion vote for the on Dec. 13.

We have enough debt to handle for a few years with the new school coming on line next year. We are not being told the whole truth about the library as there are other options that could be considered such as moving the children’s library to Nelson, get rid of all the old books they are storing and by moving the director’s office to the lower level, which would free up all the space they need. Then make it ADA compliant with the minimum required which the funds are already in place.

Our taxes are going up just under $300 per home without the added cost of operating the new school operating expenses. How much more can the elderly people in town afford? They are maxed out now having to decide on buying food or medication or paying their taxes. I’m sure Mr. Ryer will pick apart my grammar but we all cannot be Rhodes Scholars like him so I will let him do his thing. He seems to enjoy belittling people.

With about 45 to 50 million dollars ahead of us that need to be addressed in the future we should make do with some of what we have and use some common  sense before we spend on wants not needs.

I know the library has published some figures on units, not on how many people use the place. I personally sat in my car on four occasions and counted people going in, which always only came to 2 or 3 people, never more. When you hire a marketing company for $5,000, they will do what you want done to sell the project.

So I urge you to give this project a lot of thought before voting on Dec. 13.

Another point to consider is that we never bond projects of this size for more than 10 years which will double the $78 increase to $156 per home.

Remember, people, use common sense before you vote. But please vote on Dec. 13.

Ernest Peters