Letter to the Editor

Re: The Key Ingredients for Solving Two Problems

A couple of reports in last week’s paper caught my attention and prompt this unsolicited two-cents worth:

1. Renovation of the Gasconade County courthouse will require four to eight million dollars more than the alternatives. (Even in robust economic times four to eight million dollars is a sizeable amount of money, but in our current economic malaise it’s simply an extravagance most taxpayers can ill afford.) The renovation will not only entail double movement of all contents and the rental expense of office space during the renovation, but will also include double the inherent loss of productivity that accompanies any move. Renovation also carries with it the distinct possibility of damage to (or collapse of) the century-old building due to the required blasting.

2. At least three people hurt in area automobile accidents were not wearing their seat belt.

I can sum up, in two words, why one of the less expensive courthouse options should be chosen and why everyone riding in a vehicle should be wearing their seatbelt: COMMON SENSE!

Yours truly,

Patrick J. Leslie