To the editor:
I read with great interest Marc Huber’s full-page ad in the Daily Reporter concerning the Hancock County jail. The few times I have met Marc, I have found him to be a good man who seems to have our county’s best interest at heart. This seems to be supported by the fact that he went to the expense and trouble to publish this in the Daily Reporter.
Having said this, I could not disagree more with Marc on the subject and direction of the construction of a new jail. The adage ”you get what you pay for” comes to mind. I want to see our city grow in a controlled and planned manner, where retail thrives and adds to the allure of being a Hancock County and Greenfield resident. Having a jail located in the middle of town detracts from the appearance and safety of the city. We need to take a more strategic approach to developing our downtown, not a tactical one. We don’t want to be “penny wise and a dollar foolish.”
Sure, building the jail on the county farm may cost more in the short term, but in the long run, I feel that locating it there will allow us to develop our city and county seat into an attractive place to visit. I, for one, am willing to pay a little more to live in a safe and inviting city.
Let’s not be short-sighted!
David L. Anders
Greenfield
