To the editor:
Jody Smith cast the tie-breaking vote to place on a future local ballot whether Caribou would expend up to $10 million for a new police department building. While questions of this sort should always go to the voters and taxpayers, this is putting the cart before the horse.
Engineering firms will always make sure the max sum available is in their design — regardless of what the real need is — since their design and inspection costs are a percentage based upon the total cost. Elected officials never seem able to grasp the advantages of design/build where both are contained in their bid, and competition among firms tends to result in more needs and less wants.
Tom Ayer has the farmer’s bent on analyzing what is needed, not what is wanted, and as a major taxpayer in Caribou has a vested interest in giving Caribou taxpayers’ needs, not wants.
Hugh Kirkpatrick conducted hours of research into Caribou’s fire and ambulance department expenditures and in a presentation to the council and public revealed that their expenditures was costing Caribou’s citizens $138.50 per person, while neighboring communities were being charged $11.50 per person. Neighboring communities were not amused, but an inequity was corrected due to former councilor Kirkpatrick’s research.
Jody grew up two neighbors away from where I live. But realism compels me to recommend that voters on Nov. 2 retire Jody Smith and return Tom Ayer and Hugh Kirkpatrick to the council.
Bill Hersey
Caribou
