$2.16-million would be better spent fixing Laconia's streets

To the editor,

I do not understand why the Laconia City Council wants to buy the former Laconia State School property. I can understand buying the Robbie Mills Complex rather than leasing it but not the rest of the land.

I have not see any plans for how this land might be used. And if the $2.16-million is such a good price why hasn't a private developer expressed interest in the land.

If the state does accept the state's offer, does this mean the city and taxpayers like myself will have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to demolish the contaminated buildings and get rid of the rubble.

And what about the facility across the road from the baseball field. It houses some of the worst sexual offenders in the state. This facility was never moved when the state closed the prison. State correction officials have been very closed mouth about this facility. You can see it if you drive down that road. It is a complex of white buildings surrounded by steel fence which must be about 15 feet high. I believe it is called Green Street.

I hope the state refuses the city's offer. The money the council is willing to pay for this land and for which council members have not announce how it might be used, could be better spent fixing up city roads.

I agree with Ward 4 Councilor Brenda Baer as to why she would not vote for this purchase. The does already own a lot of land which is not taxed. This includes a small parcel near to my home which is overgrown and disgusting to look at. The city has never done anything to clean it up in the past 25 years.

Gordon D. King

Laconia