To the editor:

The county council approved a three-story parking garage to be built near the Morgan county administration building. This will affect me greatly as I live just one block away.

It’s one thing to claim it’s a good time to borrow because rates are low and quite another to claim you’re spending that money wisely. The County Council chose the plan that costs taxpayers $5.9 million dollars more than any of the other plans presented to them.

This structure is three blocks away from downtown, but we’re told it’ll ‘help Martinsville’. Was any kind of research done on current and future parking needs? Was this the most effective way to address those needs? As I see it, no. I drive by the Admin building almost daily. I never see the lots around the building full except on election day. Why do we need 300 spaces? If we did, doesn’t the City of Martinsville have plenty of land for that?

When spending this kind of money, all options need to be fully explored. It’s very frustrating to see the entire county foot a tax increase for this when more careful consideration could have offered better solutions.

Sincerely,

Anna Elliott

Martinsville

~ By Anna Elliott | Letter to the Editor | Published November 23, 2021 in The Reporter Times