To the editor:

It is finally refreshing to see one city commissioner take a position on the library issue. Thank you, Mayor Amyx.

However, this talk of $20 million to $30 million needs to change. The fire station at 19th and Iowa streets was around $6 million with free land. The present library is on “free” land, if you will.

The expansion of the Lawrence Public Library needs to have a budget not to exceed $6 million. If that cannot be done then perhaps it is time to examine the replacement of the library board and the director. They need to understand that public money is hard to come by.

This expansion could be paid for with a sales tax increase, exempting utilities from the increase. The debt should be paid off in no more than 10 years. Why? Any length of time after that and the furniture, carpeting and fixtures will be worn out. Would any of you borrow money to carpet your home and take out a 30-year loan?

As far as the parking lot expansion, those costs should be borne solely from city revenues from parking. It is time that the city of Lawrence uses parking money for parking and not slop it into the general fund.

Mr. Mayor, you are the titular head of Lawrence with only the power of one vote, but your vote and your voice can be heard.

The public needs to know who is on the library board, how much the present library cost when it was built and the current operating budget for what exists.

David Holroyd,

Lawrence