You may have something else in mind---welcome to the state capital of section 8?  

 

I digress. The exit off Middletown is anything but scenic, indeed, its quite dangerous, terrible wreck under the underpass last week, and by no surpise, is frequented by homeless with signs which state such and ask for money. That's on the north and south bound exits. So that $14,000 of Bern's investment is really going to "polish" the brand awareness of Middletown? The levity on here but such idealogues and clueless city hall pundits helps one get through the hard times we face daily Neil.  But, I will give you this; you undoubtedly are associated with ED, as your post about "might" and other speculation, in contrast to fact and absolutes, is exactly how ED operates. The only reason anyone other than a resident or a truck hauling AK coils would get off the Middletown exit would be to grad a dinner or lunch at Bob Evans, Cracker Barrel, or O'Charley's.

 

If I may enlighten you Neil, I'll tell you how "outsiders" view Middletown. Corrupt, behind, unwilling to maintain its infrastructure, and one of the worst eyesores in the state. But, perhaps you are right, throw in a row of birch trees, maybe some boxwoods, and they'll venture down as far as K Mart before turning around while saying to themselves"," gee, we just stepped back into the sixties, did you see those street lights honey?" I love the DC cherry blossoms, perhaps some cherries this year Neil, or steel Magnolia's?    

 

Public safety and infrastructure are the primary purposes of municipal government!!!

 

I cannot understand these folks that want to waste tax money on everything BUT these two items.  They always want to spends big wads of other people's money on superficial items, symbolism, and their own favorite HOBBIES.  Then, when push comes to shove and essential services such as police and fire must be cut, they all campaign for tax hikes "for public safety" which funds they promptly raid for more superficial items, symbolism, and their own favorite HOBBIES!!!

 

We MUST begin to live within our means and we must begin to do so now.  Use whatever fancy terms that you like to describe it, but this is a HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE, and nothing more!!!  It does not really need "enhancements".  It needs to be functional, and it will be without this extra BS.  And our existing "Welcome" sign is perfectly lovely and says it all: "Welcome to Middletown"!!!

 

Remember, we won't really be getting all that many NEW visitors, since Council and City Hall are ASHAMED of our businesses and have made it ILLEGAL for them to advertise themselves to passers-by on I-75.

 

Also remember that we cannot afford to even tend a flower bed or two at our HISTORIC cemetery, so we will NOT be able to tend these "enhancements" to our "gateway".  Why waste our scarce funds constructing them, just to have them go to seed and make our "gateway" look even worse???

Are you saying that we should WASTE it just so no other community gets a chance to USE it???  At least the $14,000 will be a savings to OUR community, and a slight relief to our beleaguered budget!!!