To the editor:

I see by the Journal World (Sept. 19) that the city has pretty well decided to build the recreation center. This project has gotten more complicated. If I remember, it started as a $13 million concept and has rapidly increased to about double the original cost in a very short time. Complicated projects seem to turn into costly and wasteful exercises.

Unlike the realistic needs of projects such as the eventual upgrading of the sewer system, police department and other public utilities, where we all benefit, this recreation center appears to be someone’s dream and is not really a realistic requirement for a community to function in its daily needs. Look, I am not against the building of this project as long as those who want this and use it will be the only ones who pay for it. But I am annoyed when developers and other officials seem to make a profit scheme from “want” projects such as this at the ultimate expense of the many taxpayers who will never use it.

Put this project up for a special vote. Instead of a standard yes or no vote for a public tax, the vote should be in the form of signing a yes or no contract to pay, so it will truly be funded only by those who will want it, use it and pledge to pay for it. If you get enough pledges to pay for it, then build it.  If not, exit the project and cut your losses.