By DALE RICKER

I would like to commend the Italian Festival committee for taking for taking on such a worthy cause as trying to raise funds for a new police station. As a retired member of the Fredonia Police Department, I can assure the public that we have needed a new station. For many years, all anyone has done is try to cover up the mold and make it more pleasing to look at for the public.

Some of the questions that need answering before a new structure is built are:

1. How much will it cost and how many Italian Festivals will they need to put on to be able to raise the funds necessary to build it?

2. How much will it cost the taxpayers? How much do you expect to raise through the Italian Festival?

3. How can you expect to afford a new building when you cannot afford to keep staffing levels where they need to be to protect the public?

4. How much tax revenue will be taken off the tax rolls when you find a new location?

5. What happens in a few years when the Village Fathers decide that they need to make further cuts to the department to reduce the tax burden?

6. Who is on the committee and who has been left off of the committee who should have been at least included in the discussions concerning a new police station?

7. Who will do the cleaning, upkeep and maintenance of a new building and grounds when we do not have the staff to keep up with current needs? Will the Village have to hire another person in the street department to do all of that? How much more will that cost taxpayers?

8. What will become of the basement in Village Hall? Close it down and let it deteriorate further or put more money into it to help preserve it? How much will that cost taxpayers?

9. Has anyone looked into the cost of a new police station that will meet state and federal regulations? Does anyone know what those regulations consist of?

10. Has anyone considered these important questions and has anyone even investigated what the initial cost of a new building would be?

Do not misunderstand my intentions here. I know better than most how poor the shape of the existing police department is and the need for a new one.

I just think that people are rushing into something without a lot of thought behind it. Hurrying into a project without considerable thought will only cost the taxpayers down the road and raising water and sewer rates alone will not cover these costs.

We have a new mayor who has taken on several large undertakings in her first few months in office, it seems without talking and thinking everything through with all aspects of the community having a say in her decisions. I think the community needs more information about a project as large as a new police station.

Dale Ricker is a retired police officer and Fredonia resident.