Letter: Taxpayers deserved library vote

Marion has a rich history of railroading since its early days. I thought those days were behind me, as local rail lines closed or were abandoned and put to other use.

Along comes the City of Marion, various committees, full steam ahead to railroad their proposal for a new library. A proposal needs a means for the citizens of Marion to accept or reject the suggestion. A simple ballot choice for the library proposal during the 2016 presidential election would have been a proper confirmation or rejection to the issue.

Instead an outdated 2009 survey, with a 36 percent participation rate, is being used to validate the project. 'Library expansion” came in as the second choice. Expansion means to enlarge what already exists, not demolish, relocate and build anew. To think differently is highly illogical and contrary to the survey wording.

Businesses to be displaced locally received little or short notice on their futures in Marion. I hope they find viable location alternatives. Perhaps the new storefronts along high traffic Blairs Ferry Road would fit the bill.

Without financing written in stone, ultimately taxpayers who should have had a ballot say in this project, will have their pockets picked again. Toot toot, full steam ahead, the highballing library project is railroading your tax dollars.

Bert Graham

Marion