GROWTH: Time to act now

Have you tried to cross Government Way from a side street to go the opposite direction lately? How many traffic signal cycles have you had to wait to cross intersections on U.S. 95? Two, sometimes three? What is the cause?

Growth, ever increasing growth.

Did you notice the recent articles in The Press:

More people = more trash, which described how the Fighting Creek Farm landfill is rapidly surpassing the expectations of year-to-year growth. No surprise, “What is increasing most is construction debris…” Recent expectations were for the landfill to service the community through 2042. Now, it is down to 2037. Did your garbage bill recently see a large increase?

New face on planning and zoning — Ms. Krueger stated: “I think the commission has the ability to recognize the growth patterns occurring and come in to try and implement a policy that leads to good development without managing growth per se.”

Without managing growth? What this county needs more than anything is managed growth! How many homes are they going to allow? What is the density going to be?

We all know, they are going to raise taxes and fees on those here to pay for infrastructure, and those who reap huge profits from the development will skip off, leaving the citizens to deal with the traffic, full landfills, water and sewage issues, overcrowded schools, etc.

How about large mandatory green zones, parks, and maybe 5-acre minimums on all future residential lots on the prairie? If developers are raising prices $50,000 per home in a short period, because they can, then they should be required to contribute substantial amounts from each home to an infrastructure fund.

Make your voices heard. If you don’t, before you know it, it will be too late and this once beautiful area will look like any major urban area in America.

ED DePRIEST

Hayden