Tolling I-80 could boost, not hurt, job development

Gregg Buchanan, Hermitage



Tolling Interstate 80 would put some of the cost of needed road repair where it should be, on those that profit from using them. The suggested alternatives like raising gasoline prices and raising the cost of vehicle registrations and driver licenses is unfounded.

These alternatives are already a reason for businesses to look elsewhere so raising them would only cause our state to be less attractive. Besides that, I-80 isn’t the only commercial corridor in the state.

We Pennsylvanians are already taxed enough. We in Mercer County are paying for an emissions check that is related to others’ use of our state roads. Let them now begin to pay something for using them.

Let’s not take the populist view or sit on our hands and whine while more and more of us can find only service-related jobs like greeters at Walmart instead of making new autos or steel coils. I would be willing to pay higher taxes if that wasn’t the case.

It’s time we quit start looking at changing our whining leaders for new progressive ones. If I were a leader and knew everyone along the corridor was against the inevitable tolling, I would be working out a deal with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for an I-80 Mercer interchange development project in exchange for giving some support at the federal level.

The last time I looked the tolls on I-76 brought more business to the area surrounding the Mars exit than it lost.



County can find wasteful spending to cut from costs

Jerry Grgurich, Hermitage



After reading many articles and quotes from the Mercer County commissioners concerning the hard times we are going through and a few of the “creative methods” they have decided to cut spending, I felt it was time to speak out concerning the use of my tax dollars.

Recently, I received an application for a 2010 dog license in the mail. I do not even own a dog. Am I the only person in the county that doesn’t own a dog?

After checking, I learned that this application is sent to every household in Mercer County. What is the cost of this printing and mailing?

Isn’t it the responsibility of pet owners to make sure their animals are properly licensed and not my responsibility as a taxpayer to pay to send them forms to jog their memories?

How many other programs need to be evaluated before the commissioners decide to start “realigning the work force” or worse, laying people off.

Given the unemployment rate in our area, I think it might be wise for our elected leaders to take a look at wasteful spending instead of adding to the problem.



Layshock case costs taxpayers; enriches lawyers

John Greenlee, Sandy Lake



Finally the Layshocks are vindicated and Hermitage School District is found guilty of violating free speech rights.

Unfortunately, if the lawyers representing the school district get their way, the case will go to a higher court and make them lots more money, win or lose.

Justin Layshock who started the controversy was punished at home by his parents for what he did. The school will never admit it was wrong, no matter how many judges say otherwise.

Those responsible could have done so easily in the early stages of this incident, but now that they’ve dug themselves in, they can only hope the taxpayers and the students who look up to them forgive them for their mistake. I wish them luck in their stubbornness.