Red Lion Mile
I read the articles in the York Daily Record regarding the situation with the Red Lion Mile with some amount of dismay. As a member of the Red Lion Redevelopment Commission I was there when the idea of the Mile was first proposed. Using private money and donations of labor and products was an innovative idea as the other rail-trails in the area have relied on grants and other money from government. Scott Thompson, Sandy Graham and Ryan Sanders should be congratulated for their efforts; they were the driving force behind the Red Lion Mile. I have been on active duty with the Army since January and will return full time to Red Lion mid September but I see in my absence things with the Red Lion Mile have not gone well.
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It's unfortunate that communication and trust broke down so badly. Frankly the three members of the Redevelopment Commission were exactly right in encouraging the citizens of Red Lion, especially donors, to question the use of the money that was given for the Red Lion Mile. The money for the Mile needs to be accounted for and any that was spent on anything other than the Mile should be returned. I have served my country most of my adult life, such service doesn't come with privileges but the responsibility to be accountable to the people we serve. The Borough Council is a position of public service and as such is accountable not just to the donors of one project but to the people of Red Lion.
The most recent story concerning the Mile gives hope that this is exactly what will be done. If the plans laid out in the memorandum of understanding are carried out there is no reason that the Red Lion Mile will not be the success that we all expected and our community will have come together, even through troubles, to make Red Lion a better place. I only hope that the Borough Council will find a way to bring that three driving forces behind the project back onto the venture.
Seth Benge
Red Lion
