Reader's view: Commission, council not interested in saving jail |
| As evidenced by recent comments from City Councilor Gary Eckenberg, the admonition that county commissioners and preservation organizations work together has been revealed as a sham. I have trashed my drafted response to the May 3 editorial (Our view: "Give old jail a final gasp"), in which I appealed to the commissioners to provide some helpful data, to put away the attacks on the objectives of the preservationists, and to work purposefully and cooperatively toward the goal of reusing the jail by the private sector. Certainly, an improved level of cooperation would have required adherence to facts and the truth. The oft-cited 1999 reuse study found the building to be structurally sound. The reuse study described the building's structural issues as far less serious than currently claimed. Because Councilor Eckenberg persuaded his colleagues that the matter would inevitably be decided in the courts, it was evident the singular aim of the council and of commissioners was to force it there. Eckenberg even swung the vote as he denied his obvious conflict of interest (as county deputy administrator). There will be no arrested decay of the building as the commissioners continue to be derelict in their responsibilities to maintain their trust obligations, and there will be no cooperation from the council or the commissioners. It also is apparent preservation organizations have been effectively ridiculed as focused on wasteful activities, unable to approach preservation issues with economic reality. Rest assured I, among many others, will work toward reconciliation and a truly cooperative effort with council and commissioners to achieve the goal of reuse of the historic jail. Gene Shull Duluth |