Reader Responses

I am an ordinary taxpaying citizen of Smith County and as such would like to have my voice heard on the jail issue.

Not every citizen voted no on the jail bond for the same reasons. Here are mine.

The commissioners and other private citizens have this antiquated idea county government offices have to be downtown. I believe that idea is the cork in the bottle of progress. Think outside the box. Go out north Broadway, somewhere around the Loop (inside or outside) and buy a considerable amount of land (enough to accommodate all county offices, from maintenance to judges.).

I know the thought of at least one commissioner is "it will not be built in north Tyler." However, think about it. Businesses will eventually build up around the complex; possibly office buildings to house lawyers, bail bondsmen; eateries for lunch crowds, etc. I believe it would actually be an asset to north Tyler or any other area where it is built.

North Broadway comes to mind because of its geographical location to downtown, which would be convenient for lawyers' who have an office downtown, and the last time I traveled north Broadway in the area of the Loop, I saw a great deal of vacant land.

How to pay for this? Put it to the citizens for approval, but do it in phases. Take a lesson from TISD. Vote on the most pressing need first, and so on until there is a complete Smith County Management and Justice Complex in place, with plenty of parking for employees, jurors, etc.

I, as a taxpayer, would be happy to do it this way as long as we are not trying to build a Taj Majal. If it is done piecemeal in downtown, as current reports suggest, we will always have a county government that is held together with bandages and duct tape.

I by no means have all the answers but I think this idea would be worth considering.