FAIRGROUDS: There already was a plan

These days I’m never amazed at the lack of memory our citizens display. Regarding the fairgrounds, a little while ago, then Sheriff Watson had the vision that made great sense both in the public safety sector, and in terms of long-term costs. His proposal was to do a land swap that would have moved the fairgrounds out by the airport where there could have been affordable development to create even more space one of which is parking and help mitigate the traffic problems inherent in the current location. In exchange, the court system was to be moved from downtown and attached to the jail. Long-term savings in millions of dollars. Not to mention enhanced public safety by reducing transportation cost of prisoners to and fro. 

And yet, here we are. More and more money, wasted. Courthouse expansion, fairgrounds wanting to stay put, more traffic on Government and Fourth. I’m surrounded by incompetent leaders and greed.

SCOTT DINGER

Hauser