Snowballed

I too would like to add my 2 cents on the topic of using taxpayer's money to help fund a new pavilion in downtown Hays.  

When are the taxpayers going to get sick and tired of supporting or trying to revitalize this aging  dinosaur called downtown Hays? To date, how many buildings are still sitting empty? Times change, so quit throwing more of our money down the drain trying to bring this old horse to life.  Why not let private developers tear some of these buildings down and construct quality apartments for our Fort Hays State University students?  

Next is the topic of a new  pavilion,  which is another stupid idea. Hey, if a private individual wants to build it, go for it. But where in the rulebook does it say the taxpayers have to jump on the bandwagon because somebody sits in their downtown office saying, "Wouldn't this be cool?"  To top it off (and this shows why our elected officials have no common sense), they are putting a pavilion on property we don't own. That's right, folks.  Union Pacific owns the property, and anytime the railroad wants to expand their rail line or add a side track, they can come to the pavilion owners and say, "Get it off our property." I'm surprised our city attorney hasn't pointed this fact out to our commissioners -- unless Union Pacific is going to deed this parcel of land over to the city, which I doubt.

Come on, taxpayers.  Get a clue, and  notify  your elected officials to quit this nonsense.  Quit using tax money foolishly.

Finally and on a somewhat different subject, get ready taxpayers for Hays USD 489 to set the stage soon for a mega-$100-million-dollar-plus bond issue. If this is passed by voters next April, your property tax bill will skyrocket for many years to come. It will make Taj MaHadley look like a pup.  Don't forget many of our schools were upgraded back in 1995 with air conditioning, etc. Our buildings are solid. Yes, we may need to upgrade a few but not to the level of money that is being presently tossed around.  

Besides, what is this I hear? USD 489 has been visiting with TMP officials concerning TMP taking over O'Loughlin Elementary School for their middle school? Why don't our newspaper reporters find out if this is true? I've heard they had two meetings with them so far on this. If so, what's behind all of this? They presently own Kennedy Middle School, which we fixed up then abandoned. Now we want to deal on selling them O'Loughlin?  Wake up, people, and start asking questions.  I believe the school board and school administrators are preparing to dig in the trenches deep on this bond issue.  

That ugly attitude of theirs called "I Want" is coming, so be prepared. Remember how they snowballed us on the Building F.A.S.T. building? That's nothing compared to the avalanche of increased taxes coming around the corner for us taxpayers.  Get your boots on. It's gonna get deep.

Sandy Dinkel

Hays