Task Force: Equal Cost Means Many Options

My co-chair and I penned an Op-Ed in today's paper. Check it out.
Equal costs mean many options
By Rep. Mike Carey and Jonathan LaBonte Special to the Sun Journal

Sunday, February 17, 2008

What to do with Bates Mill No. 5 is a critical decision for the Lewiston City Council. The building's size, history and location offer a unique opportunity and a daunting challenge. Our community debate should be grounded in our shared vision for our cities.

The Bates Mill No. 5 Task Force is a group of 15 citizens tasked by the former city council to identify options for using the building and the site. We will not make a formal recommendation - the decision rests with the city council. The task force's goal is to foster a community debate about the building and site, and how it can help realize our communities' goals.

The decision of how to use Mill No. 5 is difficult, because every option is expensive. There are generally three basic alternatives: continuing the current use, demolition, or rehabilitation. Each use will most likely result in losses of between $300,000 and $400,000 per year...finish reading

Mike Carey
Lewiston