Listen to today's voters, not those from 17 years ago

Listen

to today's voters, not those from 17 years ago

What does the

Fayette County Commission consider open-minded listening?

My husband and I went to

the public hearing on Thursday night to object to the new

jail site. We understood from Commissioner Harold Bost

that we were going to be listened to with "an open

mind, and if there were compelling reasons he would

consider a change."

With a majority of people

there to oppose the current site, it was compelling

to see Fayetteville citizens and voters of today fill the

room as to cause overflow onto the sidewalks.

However, before we, the

citizens of Fayetteville, even had the opportunity to

speak from our part on the agenda, it was stated that the

jail was going to be built where it is currently

proposed. This was not open-minded listening!

Linda Wells mentioned that

it would not be right to change something that voters

decided on 16-17 years ago. However, it is irresponsible

not to listen to the citizens and voters of today !

It was mentioned that they

are afraid a higher authoritative group may come in and

tell us where and how to build our jail. From that

standpoint, the board should know exactly how we (who

have had no say in the matter) feel. It wouldn't feel

right to have no say in the matter, would it,

Commissioner? Possibly the board is afraid the jail may

end up next to one of their homes without any regard to

their opinion.

I don't have to state over

again the countless reasons why we do not want this

proposed location. With the hard work of certain

citizens, alternate sites have been located. At this

point, I want to know why this board is so dead against

change, open-mindedness and a lack of feeling for what we

want today (our interests)?

I personally would like to

see us have the opportunity to vote on this issue again.

Why not? It makes sense. If we vote today, we can take

today's circumstances into account, not the circumstances

of 17 years ago.

Marianna Acebo

Fayetteville