Who pays?

To the editor:

I would like to personally invite all of the Lawrence residents to participate in the airport industrial park meetings. It is evident that the public does not have all of the information surrounding this project. The meeting that I went to July 30 discussed several topics, including tax consequences, sewer and stormwater issues. My favorite topics were about the $2 million for the water and sewer infrastructure or $41 million for the stormwater drainage as cited in the North Lawrence Drainage Study. How about the millions of dollars the Kansas Department of Transportation will require to improve U.S. Highway 24?

I will simply ask, who pays for the improvements required to build this project? Yes, all of the residents of Lawrence would be required to chip in their hard-earned dollars to pay for the infrastructure of this development. I would believe we can take a look around Lawrence and find better areas to develop or redevelop. Lawrence has several failed projects and empty spaces littering our landscapes.

Maybe we should ask the Diversified Concepts to share more information with the public to determine the impacts to the Lawrence residents. I would like to know what companies do they have lined up to participate in this project? How long are their leases? Could we have a potential eyesore in five years right next to our airport?

I am all for the right changes in Lawrence.

Jim Smith,

Lawrence