To the editor:
I’d like to thank Mr Huber for his research and efforts to explain the jail situation from the previous efforts up to today’s stalemate between city and county officials ("The truth about the jail project," Sept. 11, A4).
However, if you analyze his article closely, he tells of an effort to circumvent the referendum results against spending $55 million. How about instead of trying to get the councils to collude and find a way around the voters’ wishes, he and the others accept the dollar perimeters available to them, hire an architectural firm besides RQAW of Carmel and build a basic block and mortar jail?
Huber was elected just like all the council members to carry out the voters’ wishes not his opinion or the agenda of a group of longtime council members. Our mayor is a very sage and pragmatic leader; they might want to consider his suggestions.
Concerning the funds needed for addressing mental illness and addiction issues — since when is the county responsible for that? Those funds need to come from state or federal sources. It’s a statewide and nationwide issue not specific to Hancock County or Greenfield. As far as new law offices, there are plenty of options but that should be the very last item on any budget agenda.
Dennis V. Dunn
Greenfield
