The News Courier encourages letters to the editor. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and include name, address and telephone number for verification. Submissions that do not meet requirements are subject to editing. Writers are limited to one published letter every 30 days. Send letters to P.O. Box 670, Athens AL 35613 or email to adam@athensnews-courier.com.

Thanks for the help

Dear Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office for all the hard work and investigation that they did to arrest the person who broke into my home on July 12.

They demonstrated professionalism and concern for me and my home, which was damaged. They kept me informed about the ongoing investigation and notified me when the person was arrested.

I appreciate them and the job they do to keep us safe.

Sincerely,

Mickey Grigsby

Limestone County

40-year reunion a success

Dear Editor:

On Saturday, July 22, a large number of the Athens High School class of 1977 gathered at the Revival in Athens to celebrate our 40th year reunion.

Stories were recalled (and exaggerated) and laughter was constant throughout the evening. It was great fun to recall stories from the classroom and extracurricular activities.

Gratitude is very much due those who diligently worked to make the night a success. Jeff and Mary Beth Bass, Kirk Harvey, and Tim Ryberg were among the leaders and many others were involved. Thank you so much.

The class of 1977 is blessed to have been launched from Athens, Alabama, where there is a solid school system with outstanding teachers gave us the foundation to pursue dreams and to make a difference in the world. I am proud to be part of that group and proud to name Athens the town in which I was raised.

Sincerely,

Dewayne “Bubba” Belcher

Bluefield, Virginia

The grand giveaway?

Dear Editor:

There is a buzz around town that the Athens City Council and the mayor are strongly considering approving and sanctioning that our city tax dollars be provided to downtown new and existing businesses to make repairs and remodel their own private buildings.

I believe there must be a public hearing in the evening at City Hall to ensure the general population of Athens is aware and fully understands what is being proposed. Questions must be answered prior to the mayor and the City Council taking action.

Questions include, but are not limited to:

• How many new and existing city employees will be required to manage the incentive program’s compliance and accounting, particularly in response to program/project current operations, program growth and continuing actionable legal requirements?

• Does Athens have any guarantee of ever recovering planned additional revenues resulting from a prepaid remodel from the current owner?

• What if the business fails or is sold and a profit is made resulting from the city’s revenue incentive expenditures?

• What about questions of patronage, cronyism, buddy/buddy and/or family relationship issues and conflicts of interests?

• If the city does it once will it be forced to do it again and again based on legalities and protests?

• What about the issues surrounding the building owner vs the business requesting remodel money?

• Will the precedent set bring the thundering hoards to the public trough, along with all the associated issues and obligations?

• What about consideration for the growth in online shopping e.g. Amazon.com and others.

What happens when requests for incentive dollars exceed funding availability? A property tax increase applied to the general population?

• Will each individual project request that comes before the City Council be voted on at and during a formal City Council meeting?

• What if a project fails and goes out of business or declares bankruptcy?

What about how future projects are funded? Out of available revenue (robbing Peter to pay Paul)?

• Where are cuts to other city services going to come from? Streets, police and fire protection, recreation, cemetery maintenance, sanitation, utilities and city employees’ salaries?

Finally, you can’t compare the Athens suggested project incentive program with other cities like Madison or Huntsville as Athens property tax revenue is far less.

Sincerely,

Ralph Diggins

Athens