From the start, poor decisions were made by township supervisors in financing the project. To make matters worse, no organized effort was made to obtain state grants which could have offset some of the high cost to residents. Every day, readers of the Observer-Reporter can see articles that detail various community projects receiving state grants. Many of these projects are designed to benefit future residents and workers by attracting them to the area. Cecil residents have been taxpayers for years, and we haven't seen one cent from our fair state to help with this infrastructure improvement.
Our elected officials in Washington County as well as the state House and Senate have been contacted numerous times regarding this issue. Most readers know who these public servants are (if you don't, visit www.legis.state.pa.us. E-mail contact addresses are available.) Not a single one of these elected officials has made any sustainable effort to do something for their constituents in Cecil. We do not want to hear about "missed grant funding application windows" or "it's too late now that the project is just about done." We don't want to hear about federally available low-interest loans, because most of us can't qualify because of the extremely low income guidelines. Some residents on SSI and fixed incomes couldn't even qualify. Cecil Township residents are every bit as deserving as the residents in neighboring communities that received or will receive state assistance for similar projects. We invite our elected officials to come through with funding to offset the excessive tap-in costs through rebates or service at no charge for a defined period.
Sandy Lawrence
Cecil Township
Money wasted
in the city
Why do voters in Washington allow continued mismanagement of funds? I agree the police station should be fixed when the city can afford to, but how much money has been wasted through the decades? Thousands recently were spent on Virginia Ullom's flower planter and new carpeting in City Hall.
What about when Anthony Spossey was mayor in the 1990s? City hall was remodeled, and a new mayor's office built. The uptown project was started and the neighborhoods forgotten. That police station was also built on Spossey's watch. Where was the foresight to make sure it was done right the first time? Why are some making this an issue now when it's been a growing problem since it was built over 10 years ago? Why take taxpayer money from the neighborhoods to fix the station if the city is finally taking the contractor to court?
Denise Terling
Washington
Find a solution
I drive through city neighborhoods many times a week, and it's troubling to see the poor condition of them. I work in construction and also am concerned about the police station building that is only 11 years old and falling apart so quickly. I question why city officials didn't hold the contractor accountable when these problems were apparent almost from the beginning. I urge City Council to work together to come up with a solution for the police station whether it's through a court decision with the original contractor or some other money. Our boys in blue need their home in good condition.
Ryan Truby
North Franklin Township