To the editor:

The City Commission proposes spending $28 million for a police station to be located near the turnpike exit on north Iowa. The cost is extravagant, the location is not “central,” and there are better alternatives.

Last month, the commission raised the possibility of donating 10 acres of the proposed tract to the Boys and Girls Club. At the Sept. 23 meeting, Commissioner Schumm said he hoped the Boys and Girls Club members would be reminded to campaign for the police station project, and Commissioner Farmer replied he thought they would be very supportive. Those 10 acres (valued at $500,000) would belong to the taxpayers and should not be used by commissioners to buy votes.

Last year, four commissioners (not Amyx) gave a $12 million no-bid contract to an influential developer for the Rock Chalk Park project. Obviously, not bidding that project increased the cost to taxpayers. Now our money is being used to buy votes for the police station.