SILOAM SPRINGS — Wasted tax dollars?

As a taxpayer and property owner in Siloam Springs I am very concerned about the recent buying by the city of a property for the new power generator. If I understand correctly, it was appraised at approximately $60,000 less than the city paid for it. Also, that it is much more propertythan needed for the unit.

Why would the city do this? In this depressed time we need tobe conserving as much as possible. Is this good stewardship?

While on this train of thought why were all the computer screens replaced for the directors? I understand we have excellent IT staff that could probably fix problems they might have been experiencing.

I don’t willfully spend my income on unneeded stuff, so why should these representatives of taxpayers do so? Have they become so complacent in their role that they don’t consider the impact their spending has on our surplus?

Or, do we still have the millions in surplus we have been led to believe? I really would like to see the Directors reevaluate their money. Is it time to replace our board of directors and elect those who do the will of the people?

Let’s start at the top and have more accountability for our wonderful city.

Clarifying position

The sub-headline on the story about the lottery and student gambling in Arkansas (Oct. 11, 6A) doesn’t clearly reflect JBU’s position. Students who attend JBU agree to “avoid practices that will harm ourselves, one another, or the community as a whole. Such practices include tobacco use, profanity, and gambling.”From: Marshall Franks Siloam Springs

Students who gamble are subject to the University’s normal discipline process.

This is a measured process, where Student Development addresses violationsof the community covenant with a response that is appropriate to the student and circumstances.

The ultimate goal of all discipline at JBU is to be redemptive and educational for the student.

We have followed the relationship between the new Arkansas lottery and statescholarship funds with appropriate interest.

As we understand the process now, scholarship money from the Arkansas lottery will be mixed with other government resources to fund the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship.

These Challenge scholarships are awarded to the students by the state, and students will have an option to accept or decline those scholarships like any other part of their financial aid package.

Lucas Roebuck Director of University Communications John Brown University

Opinion, Pages 3 on 10/14/2009

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