Not so complex

In his Reader Forum letter that appeared Thursday, Mr. Vernon S. Befort expressed a number of concerns about the Hays sports complex, and he seemed to suggest that city taxpayers were going to build a soccer stadium for Fort Hays State University.

Although the city sports complex and the FHSU soccer stadium will be located on the same site, I hope Mr. Befort will be relieved to learn that they are completely separate projects in terms of financing. I have been a supporter of both projects, but the university will pay for the stadium and city taxpayers will pay for the rest of the sports complex. That is the way it was proposed, and that is the way it will be.

I think Mr. Befort also overlooked two other important points. First, he seems to be unsure about who is responsible for the decision to build the Hays sports complex. In the most honored of American traditions, the people of Hays voted overwhelmingly to approve the sports complex. Second, he seems to dismiss soccer as an inconsequential sport. I checked with the Hays Recreation Commission today to be sure, and it was confirmed that soccer is one of the most popular sports for the youth of our community and has been for many years.

Edward Hammond, president, Fort Hays State University