Except that we taxpayers

will certainly cough up every dime to put up the new

bars, through our county property tax rate - set

of say-so in the process.

The commission should take

a deep breath and call a time-out.

There is time for sober

reflection, for abundant public input and for education

of the voters on why the project is a necessary

expenditure of our limited county tax money. There is

time to be reflective.

But instead of being

reflective, the commission seems to be leaning toward an

authoritarian approach - "We know what's

needed, we know you don't like it, and we are going to do

it anyway. We'll have a `public hearing,' but the new

jail and its in-town site is a done deal."

The commission should have

done better than this. Our elected servants must

do better than this. The public deserves better than

this. - CNB

<!-------------