Hemlock86

The Brasserie Ecosse is great. Definately high-end, but worth every penny. They have done a great job with the renovations and the look and feel of the place is great. It makes for a nice evening with a two hour meal. Finest meal I have had in a long time. Good wine selection. Wait staff was excelent as was the food and presentation. Convenient valet parking is avaliable too. I'd give it five stars for sure and look forward to going back soon.

Whether it's a tax or a fee, if it's a dollar out of my pocket it's all the same to me. Having said that let's get real and look at the actual cost. The hated road fee amounts to just under .07 cents per day. Surely this is a small price to pay to have safe roads & bridges. Look at your tax bill next time it comes is the mail. Of the entire county budget only 16% can be used for discretionany expenses. Road improvements are a part of this, which is not much to work with. The rest is designated for schools, the Air Port, Library, Jail, etc. Our roads have suffered over the years as a consequence because there was no money to fix them. We are now playing catch up. Be patient. As for the 2% hospitality tax, I probably spend on average $300 per month eating out or $3600 per year. This amounts to only $72.00 per year/ $6.00 per month or .20 per day in additional tax. I don't think either of these is going to cause any serious financial hardship to anyone plus it is shared by visitors who recieve no benefits. Sounds like a plan to me.

The lift gate operates by a swipe card issued to employees of QS/1 and keeps the public out. It is owned by QS/1 I assue you. As to why jurors would be asked to park @ Magnolia St Station when the county lot is empty. " Ask not what you county asks of you, Just do what they say is good for the county" :-) It does not make since. Remember, this comes from the same people who brought you no zoning or very little if any planning in the county. There is no logic to it.

A point of clarification Spartan. The city parking lot you refer to adjacent to the RR tracks is actually owned by QS/1. The county used to own it, but when QS/1 & the County Sheriff's office (out own Howard Street where QS/1 was located) traded properties, the parking lot changed hands too. There was a two year least for county use as parking for Jury duty which has since expired. That lot is now owned and used as private parking for QS/1. QS/1 / J M Smith Corp also owns the old run downbuildings beside the parking lot as well as most of the buildings behind their headquarters where Sonny's Pizza is located. Folks reporting for jury duty are supposed to use the parking area at the Magnolia St train Depot, which is actually closer to the court house entrance, one block. So now you know the rest of the story. I agree a nice building in the parking area behind the courthouse would be a good idea. Also a multistory structure on the opposite corner would be an improvement and help enhance that entrance to Downtown.

Johnson Developement has purchased the Bank of America building on East Main St, as well as the Broadwalk building on Broad St. and plans to redevelope both properties with a blend of offices, street retail and resturants. Sounds great to me.

I have had two very good dinners at the Lime Leaf. I highly recomed giving it a try. It is a cozy little resturant, has a nice bar, the service is good, the food great and the prices are very reasonable. Dinner for two with a couple of drinks- $45.00 Let's do all we can to support our resturants Downtown .