I have an observation and a suggestion about the controversial new police station location.

I not only read the comments made at the meeting on Monday, but also heard from attendees. I wish I could have been there.

I agree we need a new police station; no question about that.

When I was a young girl, the police were upstairs and only jails were downstairs. I cannot understand why we put our officers down there, too. We could rectify that and move them back and move the office folks to the Sentinel building. I’m sure it could support office folks far better than police.

Since that was shot down, many other sites would be better than the one chosen, but other options were shot down, too.

What I didn’t hear was this question: Why isn’t this issue put on a ballot for the people of Waterville to decide? We are the ones who have to pay for it, and we should have the chance to vote on its location.

The site chosen by a few people on the city council originally was planned for a park, a walkway along the river, a possible IMax theater and things that would benefit the people of Waterville. It’s already used for a few activities that most likely would fall along the wayside because a building and its parking needs will use up the space.

This is an issue about which Mayor Karen Heck could be the champion for the people of Waterville.

Marsha Denis

Waterville