Letters to the editor

Courts facilities needed,

but not with this plan

Vote "no" on Benton County courthouse funding. I do not disagree that Benton County needs better court facilities. I do disagree on the package they are trying to push on us to make it happen.

If you're spending $25 million for a building, it includes many high-end finishes. Durable does not mean high cost. Design based on function and durability, not "pretty." Issue bonds to pay for it.

If I build a new house, I finance it over 15 to 30 years. I don't go to the neighbors and ask them to give me money so I don't have to have a mortgage. They also plan to spend $5 million to remodel and refurbish the buildings the courts are moving out of. If you replace the space, sell the buildings you are moving out of. (One of the county's arguments is that the old courthouse is too hard to maintain, yet they want to spend millions to repair and remodel it).

Also, sales tax in the major cities in Benton County is already in the top 10 in the country.

And last but not least, how many of you really think that the new sales tax will go away in 54 months? Rogers, Springdale, Fayetteville and now the state of Arkansas have recently said they are coming back to the voters to say, we were just kidding when we told you it would go away in a few years, so please vote to continue it. It's not a new tax; you are used to paying it.

Do you think the county will do the same when their 54 months is up?

Dave Freeman

Garfield

Gun-happy editorialist missed target on solution

I was deeply disappointed the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette ran an editorial, "Stay of execution," in the March 6 paper making fun of opposition to killing of Canada geese at the Bentonville airport. The editorial cutely claims geese now have a "stay of execution" while the airport studies ways to protect aircraft.

There's nothing in the editorial indicating the writer actually knows anything about the subject, including proven ways to enhance aircraft safety. According to the editorial, "But shotgun shells? We have plenty of those, and they're cost-effective." Actually, they are not cost-effective. No matter how many shotgun shells used, such use will not enhance safety, unless you happen to be one of those people who believe the more guns you own, the safer you are. Going out with a shotgun and killing a few geese will make great photo opportunities for people who relish that kind of thing, but it will not protect the airplanes flying off the runway.

Too bad the writer of "Stay of execution" wasn't with me on a recent trip I made to check this out for myself. During my trip I saw a grand total of two Canada geese, walking around on the ground. On the same trip, I saw a ring-billed gull, also a large bird, perched on the runway. So will we need shotgun shells to kill all gulls that visit the airport? Better bring lots of shells. On the same trip, an adult bald eagle flew low, right over the north end of the runway. Could easily have been directly in the path of an aircraft. Do you have your federal permit for killing our national bird, because we have them in Northwest Arkansas all year, but especially in winter. Bald Eagles are common around the Bentonville airport. So will we shoot those, too?

On the same trip, on Lake Bentonville along the north end of the runway, I saw two small flocks of wild ducks. When they take off, their flight pattern can include the north end of the runway. Got that duck stamp? I guess it is going to take even more shotgun shells than anticipated.

Joe Neal

Fayetteville

Editorial on 03/09/2019

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