Clear difference between candidates | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I read with interest your op-eds in The Globe recently. There is a clear difference between you in the story of the sale of the old Coca-Cola building. Mr. Wright points out that the city commissioned a study after the property’s purchase, and then sold the main part of the property for a considerably lesser amount than that for which it was purchased. Mr. Nehring states that the property has been sold to Parr Lumber and that the price “recaptures the city’s purchase price for the building.” Which is it?

September 29, 2011 12:03 pm

I read with interest your op-eds in The Globe recently.  There is a clear difference between you in the story of the sale of the old Coca-Cola building.  Mr. Wright points out that the city commissioned a study after the property’s purchase, and then sold the main part of the property for a considerably lesser amount than that for which it was purchased.  Mr. Nehring states that the property has been sold to Parr Lumber and that the price “recaptures the city’s purchase price for the building.”  Which is it?

While I too welcome Parr Lumber to our community, the double-speak in Mayor Nehring’s account of the purchase bothers me. One question is: why weren’t the city’s actual needs considered before spending almost $4 million of the city’s (a/k/a, taxpayers’) funds?  Is our city so awash in taxpayer money that we can spend four million taxpayer dollars without first determining our actual need?  Mr. Nehring, could you please give a clear accounting of this purchase and sale, including how much money the taxpayers lost as a result?

As Mr. Wright predicted, I was surprised to read that the Walmart planned for the intersection of State Route 9 and Highway 528 will soon begin construction. One doesn’t have to think too hard to imagine the traffic impact. I support any new business, including Walmart, even though I live less than two miles from this planned store. No doubt there will be road construction sometime after the store’s opening and delays will be much worse due to the increased traffic. The city’s rule exempting big-box retailers from paying traffic impact fees is ridiculous. The taxpayers do not need to support this burden.

I also agree with Mr. Wright’s additional comments regarding the traffic flow in Marysville.  There are some afternoons when you just can’t get out of this town in any timely manner. If we had an emergency evacuation, forget about getting out at all.

Thank you for the opportunity to read your opinions. I do not know either of you, but after reading these, my vote is for Mr. Wright.

Linda Reeves

Marysville