Vote yes for the justice center

The landmark Johnson County Courthouse may have been one of the best investments made by the early residents of Johnson County. It continues to survive and serve the area's burgeoning population thanks to creative maintenance, refurbishings and thoughtful adaptations by the legions of public servants who have “made do” under the strain of limited and inappropriate space.

A July 14 Press-Citizen piece titled “This is a time bomb” presents an unbiased and accurate account of the perils associated with use of an outmoded and overburdened facility.

I was a member of the study committee of the overcrowded jail that filed its report in 2000, I can attest to the almost impossible conditions of the inadequate jail facility. As a small claims mediator for 10 years, it is not possible to adequately characterize the lack of much-needed privacy as we scrounged for a space to mediate a case.

Along with these challenges, our county board has been faced with coordinating a bond referendum in the context of demands by other taxing bodies as well as the growing reluctance of a tax-adverse public. Kudos to the supervisors and the planners who have creatively fashioned a solution that most cost effectively addresses the jail and courthouse requirements.

Do not prolong the agony of the dilemma. Vote yes for the Johnson County Justice Center referendum.

Leonard Roberts

Oxford