Holly Springs Town Council, Please help me understand the purpose of the winter retreat. I’m hoping that you are planning on paying for your own room and board, meals and entertainment since there is travel outside of our city and county involved in this proposed retreat.

It is crystal clear to me that we certainly have excellent hosting facilities, dining choices and entertainment locations right here in Holly Springs. To conduct town business in any other location using tax revenue generated by our community is a huge slap in the face to the residents, business owners and taxpayers of the town you promised to serve in an ethical manner. Mr. Dickson and his attempts to push this as a good idea by using public comments and blog postings only serve to further convince me that this is not a good way to spend my money. Just to give you an example of the state of our economy and the effect it has on the people who really do make a difference to serve us, some of the NC National Guard members who have to travel over 100 miles or more for drill weekend are now obligated to pay for their own accommodations.

If you still think sending residents to Pinehurst (or any vacation resort) is a good idea then you may want to consider looking into finding six Holly Springs residents that have served in our military and who have been risking their lives in foreign countries to protect us. They really deserve a retreat. Tony D’Agostino