School board’s ‘dome dilemma’ defies logic

Amazing! I just came from the hastily called Board of Education meeting that discussed the “Dome dilemma” mentioned in Wednesday’s Post. It seems they are not exactly sure how or who actually approved the expenditure of funds for those steel supports for the dome because, as Chairman Josh Wagner put it, “it’s always been an alternative proposal” that is separately funded.

It’s beyond comprehension that a decorative dome originally estimated to cost $250,000 was even considered to be a better expenditure of taxpayers’ — for that matter, anybody’s — dollars than solar panels on the roof that will recoup their cost in five to seven years and then continue to provide free energy for another 20 years or so.

How can our elected officials call themselves “conservative” when they shamelessly waste our taxpayer dollars in this manner?

Don’t even get me started on the fact that this public building is not being constructed to Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards. Just another reason we can’t attract business and industry leaders to this community!

— Dwayne Dvoracek

Salisbury

The enduring scar

Leave the dome on the new school system central office unfinished. We can point to it as representing a lasting, enduring scar of the building’s 26-year shameful, convoluted history in being built. The painted steel beams can be a monument of sorts, to our county’s obstinate leadership (or lack thereof). When asked, we can point to it as the symbol of the way we value public education in Rowan County and why our county has stagnated when it comes to recruiting business and industry.

At one time, when public buildings were erected, they were built to reflect the importance of the functions within. They were built as the symbols of power, significance and values of the community. They were built sturdy, architecturally grand, functional and enduring. They were built to last (unlike the mall).

Thanks to the county, it took 26 years to get the central office building out of the ground. More than a $1.5 million dollars underfunded, it will be too small when completed. It has been stripped to the bones and now we learn, the buildings dome will be incomplete.

Leave it that way. It sends a fitting message to leaders of business and industry and people wanting to move to our community. The unfinished dome will be the enduring scar that represents how we value public education in Rowan County.

— Michael Young

Salisbury

Strange spending

The county commissioners buy a mall for county offices, build a two-story education building, add a $320,000 dome they don’t have the money for, interview lawyers from Charlotte and Raleigh for school board lawyer — to travel from Raleigh at county expense. Why do we have elections and get the same idiotic results?

— Jim Whalen

Salisbury

Fancy eyewash

How dare the school system waste our tax dollars on such foolishness as a dome? Would they spend their own money on such? I think not. Why do our tax monies lose value in the eyes of elected people? Fancy eyewash does nothing to improve our education system, common sense says spend for effect not bragging rights. Our dome is better than yours. Vote these senseless people out and vote in a group with common sense.

— Doug Matthews

Salisbury

Trump no threat

What’s the big deal with Donald Trump receiving 16 percent support from 400 Republicans in North Carolina in a poll by a left-leaning Democratic polling operation as described by the Raleigh News and Observer?

Could it be because the label “white male only” no longer fits the Republican Party at the state and national levels?

Consider that two of the top four officials in the North Carolina Republican Party are African-Americans–the state chairman and the national committeewoman (Dr. Ada Fisher of Salisbury).  There are only four or five African-Americans on the entire national committee which is composed of representatives of all 50 states.

With there being two Hispanics, one female, one African-American, and one Indian running for President as Republicans, the “white male label” no longer applies.  So maybe the liberal news media and the opposition party are focusing on Trump in a futile effort to try to continue that myth.

The last thing the Republicans need to do is to follow the advice of some editorial writers who want the presidential candidates to criticize Trump and some of his outrageous statements.  He will self-destruct especially when more Republicans learn that he contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Hillary Clinton and Harry Reid.  Republicans should remember the words of Ronald Reagan about not speaking ill of other Republicans.  Of course, that wouldn’t make news, would it?

— Phil Kirk

Raleigh

A vote for ‘Hope’

The first page of the Salisbury Post to get my attention is usually the Opinion page with its editorials and letters to the editor.

Tuesday, July 14, was no exception. The letters were right on, and Missy Shives’ My Turn column (“Remove hate, not statues”) was very insightful. I couldn’t have said it better myself.

I sincerely hope and pray that folks of like mind as Missy and myself will spearhead a movement to “erect a statue called ‘Hop,’ a statue for the 21st century, in a prominent place, which would symbolize reconciliation, respect and unity.” That will be something we can all applaud.

— Lee Hall

Salisbury