Letter to the Editor

In response to a concern that my article contained a warning (which has been removed from the article) that any construction under the soon to be voted on bond issue for the schools be only contracted with warranties, guarantees and bonds fully in place, perhaps I need to explain further.

I am FOR funding the many school necessities to be paid for through this proposed bond, as are many of my friends, relatives and others. We have no problem asking that the issue pass and the long overdue problems be fixed promptly, properly.

We care about these kids and the school, too. Some of these needs are older than anyone wants to admit. These insufficient heating/cooling systems, certain structural problems, should be top priority, no question about it. Please address these before considering any new construction, even though that is needed, too. And the bond issue could take care of that.

The reason for stating the need for the guarantees is that so many of our Grant County public buildings and locally contracted efforts have failed us so often, when warranties and other strictly enforced guarantees could have prevented so much needless waste and expense. Why don't our public officials insist on quality performance or consequences to the contractors?

Why does the County Administration Building on the hill need constant repairs, always at tax payer expense? If we paid Taj Mahal prices, why the unending bills that no one wants to admit to? Is anyone telling us there were no mistakes on Fort Bayard's new hospital? Ask anyone who knows the stories. Why do we have to cover up so much of what is done here? You know I have not mentioned a fraction of them. There are many more, and most people know and talk about them. But not openly. And so much concrete work is substandard.

Why must we pretend there are no problems, when it is so obvious, so widespread? Use this knowledge for a purpose. Take care of the problems and don't let it happen to the schools. Can't we get quality legal help to see that these protections are fed into each and every contract, with the application and signature being proof that the future contractor knows he will perform adequately or be given the opportunity to do that job over, better the next time, at no additional expense?

I see no problem with holding each and every job for the district to a higher standard. If I know that the protections are in place, I can confidently vote GǣyesGǥ on that bond issue. You can, too. Let's not deny or hide the problems, let's take care of them. Let's make Silver City, yes, all Grant County, an area where you get all the benefits you paid for. Buyer's remorse should be a thing of the past. We care about our community. And residences have their share of horror stories, too. Too bad the law doesn't protect us from things like this.

So, no excuses. Let's do right by the kids and their schools and raise the standards. That really won't hurt anyone in the long run. And let's pass that bond issue with a lot of confidence. That's what this really is all about. Doing the job right, getting our money's worth. Raise the standards!

Margaret Hopper
Silver City