The Tioga County Legislature, at its meeting on July 12, passed a resolution to pay $326,000 to have Mr. Nelson take the 231 Main Sreet. property off the county's hands. They justify this action as being in the public interest, since Mr. Nelson promises to build what they consider proper. 

 In addition to giving the building to Mr. Nelson for $1, they justify paying him $326,000 for asbestos removal. They are poorly informed. Out of 140 samples taken throughout the building by experts hired by the county, 39 contained asbestos and none of these in dangerous concentrations. $326,000 is an outrageous amount!

 Furthermore, the legislation itself is absolutely improper. As the county treasurer has pointed out, it uses local tax dollars to improve a private property. Certainly this would not benefit a shop keeper in the Village of Nichols, nor a farmer in the Town of Tioga.

 At the next election on September 13, we will have an opportunity to vote for county legislators. May I suggest that we vote only for those candidates who publically state their opposition to spending tax dollars for private benefit.