Columbia County doesn't need arena

According to Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross in a television interview recently, an arena in Columbia County could not pay for itself. However, that is not stopping him and others from proceeding with building a very expensive arena that, I feel, will not be able to draw enough big names and big events to make it worthwhile, especially since it is not expected to pay for itself, even in the planning stage.

This area is too near Atlanta, Columbia and Charlotte, which already have larger facilities and attract the big names. Columbia County will have to draw customers from those areas to fill an arena here. With the competition that already exists, people will not drive 70-150 miles to see a show that has been, and will be, in their local arenas.

If the arena is not expected to pay for itself, we, the taxpayers, will be expected to pay for it. Without enough income generated, how will it be maintained? Again, the taxpayers will be expected to bear this burden. Then, before too long, it will be just a millstone around the necks of the taxpayers, another rundown eyesore in the community.

I think that Columbia County could spend the $100 million, which we don't have, in a much more productive way. Our special purpose local option sales tax already is high enough. Will we eventually reach the point that Richmond County has reached already, having the voting population fed up with too much waste and vote to not have the SPLOST continued?

Please be sensible with our hard-earned money.

Edith Flynt

Grovetown