- Mark my words — they are vastly underestimating the operational costs of a recreation center. It’s easy to say now that you can trim staffing numbers by using volunteers or members of the university community… But once the center opens, the need — and the cost — of more paid staff will be evident. I know that the city I work for (Maumelle) ran into the same problem when they opened their community center in the first part of this decade.

- Who has seen the conceptual drawings of the site? Is there any chance that the buildings — if built — will fit with the “historic” theme of Main Street and downtown?

- The idea of a fire station near a residential neighborhood is not unheard of. For instance, nearly half of Little Rock’s 20 fire stations are in or near residential neighborhoods. Also, I would estimate that the Monticello Fire Department responds to between 100-150 calls a year — the the worry of constant sirens is unfounded.

- Is a fire station in the center of town neccessary? Would it be better to have three *staffed* stations equally spread through town to allow protection to the city today and to the new parts of the city that Monticello is sure to add through future expansion? Perhaps building two stations in better geographical locations — north and east, maybe — would be better than building one headquarters station that is landlocked in the center of town.