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Are you happy? |
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To the Editor:
As a landowner in Houston County, I hardly need to ask the question. As
can be seen by anyone following the updating of our Land Use Plan, the
answer is clear. No!
So what, then, do we do with the words “the pursuit of happiness”
penned by Thomas Jefferson, one of our founding fathers, in the
Declaration of Independence? Here he declares what all of us feel and
know instinctively, that this is an inalienable right endowed to us by
our Creator, however each individual views Him. A few minutes of
study shows that, to Jefferson, this phrase is all-inclusive of a man’s
property, starting with his very thoughts and extending out to his real
property (buildings, land, whatever) and everything in between.
When you bought a piece of land (big or small, acres don’t matter) with
or without buildings, did you buy it for your happiness, your hopes,
your dreams, your responsibilities, your plans? Or did you buy it to
make a neighbor, a government official, a collective of people happy?
How utterly ridiculous! But that is the way it is here in Houston
County. The landowners who wish to pursue their happiness with the use
of their land or buildings had better hope that the government
officials are happy with their plans or they will not be allowed to be
happy.
Just ask the man near Money Creek who wanted to build a guest house for
his children and grandchildren, to help his aging wife. Just ask the
man near Black Hammer who wanted to build a guest house for his
parents, to provide for them in their old age. These families were
denied their rights because of the current zoning ordinances. What an
outrage! Or ask the retired farmer near Spring Grove who sold off his
house and a large piece of land with it, while retaining enough (so he
thought) land to build a retirement home. Due to ordinance violations
he can only build far off the road where he does not want to be, so he
is forced to build in town. Absolutely outrageous! And the list goes on
and on!
At the Land Use Plan meetings the unhappiness of the landowners is very
apparent to our governing officials, but they show no sign of changing
the Land Use Plan to restore the inalienable rights to the landowners.
Are we to believe that what they want is to have a large group of
unhappy, disgruntled, angry citizens in the county? Shame be upon us
landowners for allowing this situation now facing us to come into being.
That being said, greater shame, even disgrace, be upon any official,
now that they are aware of this violation of rights, who does not work
diligently to restore the rights of each and every landowner to be able
to go about “the pursuit of happiness” by adopting the resolution that
has been set before the Commissioners, signed by over 700 landowners of
Houston County.
Robert Ideker
Hokah, Minn.
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Stamp out hunger |
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To the Editor:
On Saturday, May 10, letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and
towns across America will deliver mail and gather the generosity of
their postal customers participating in the 16th annual NALC National
Food Drive. All food collected from Caledonia, La Crescent, and Spring
Grove will stock the local food shelf. According to the figures
released by the food shelf for the past three years, the amount of food
collected in both Caledonia and La Crescent has decreased each year
while the totals for Spring Grove have increased. The totals for 2007
were: Caledonia 974 pounds, La Crescent 1014 pounds and Spring Grove
736 pounds. Per capita the citizens of Spring Grove surpass both
Caledonia and La Crescent in their donations. No city letter carriers
are employed in Spring Grove; postal patrons bring food to the post
office and rural carriers collect donations on their routes. Spring
Grove’s effort is tremendous. I would like to issue a challenge to the
people of Caledonia to do as well. In an effort to make it easier for
everyone to give there will be collection boxes at Quillin’s
supermarket from Monday, May 5 through Saturday, May 10. Please pick up
an extra item of non-perishable food when you are shopping and drop it
in the basket. There will be collection boxes for food in the lobby of
the post office during this time as well. When you come in for a stamp
or to access your post office box bring a can of food. Local businesses
may call the post office during this week and a letter carrier will be
happy to come by and pick up your donations of food (as well as your
outgoing letters and parcels). Rural and city residents’ donations will
be picked up by their carrier. Caledonia’s carriers as well as retired
carriers will be out in force on Saturday, May 10 to collect food items
placed in or near your mailbox. We hope to make the 2008 National Food
Drive our most successful yet. Give generously Caledonia; along with
our neighboring cities we can fill the food shelves and help to “Stamp
Out Hunger.”
Anne Doering, Letter Carrier
Caledonia Post Office
National Association of Letter Carriers
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Back to what’s important |
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To the Editor:
The County Planning and Zoning Commission is reviewing public input on
the Land Use Plan. Here’s yet another chance for the County Board to
get it right. The present zoning ordinance is so unconscionably bad, it
has drawn well-deserved national scrutiny from property rights groups.
While sensible zoning can increase land values, these sections from
Houston County Zoning show how property rights can be abused under
oppressive regulation.
§ 110.0502 “… no person, … shall install, repair, add to, or move any
building or part thereof, including the following: decks, homes,
cabins, accessory structures and ag-use structures (machine sheds,
livestock housing, grain bins, up-right silos, etc.) without first
securing a Building Location Permit.”
Aside from a level of governmental control that shocks the conscience,
the provision speaks for itself. Clearly this isn’t the liberty
enshrined in the Constitution.
§ 110.1206 “Whenever a use is neither specifically permitted nor denied, the use shall be considered prohibited.”
This is a crystal clear violation of private property rights, which
along with all other rights, clearly belong to the people unless they
are specifically granted to government by the Constitution.
§ 110.0305 “Agricultural buildings shall not be constructed or used as
the permanent, temporary or rental residence for any person or group of
persons. Any agricultural building may contain a single restroom not to
exceed eighty (80) square feet in floor area, with such space to
include no use other than toilet and bathing facilities.”
This provision, in conjunction with the 40-acre rule have the
consequence of restricting family unity and the good Samaritan
spirit—both fundamental to farm culture. The admirable linking of
generations has been done in a number of effective and creative ways in
farm culture. Parents, in their later years, have been accommodated in
remodeled outbuildings providing comfortable and healthy facilities. An
additional Constitutional land use is helping a fellow human in need
e.g. Christian charity, by providing safe harbor in an apartment that
may be in a remodeled shed, garage or other outbuilding while he gets
back on his feet.
These cultural assets of Houston County are effectively prohibited
under this provision. Surely the integrity of the family and citizen’s
liberties, as guaranteed by the Founding Documents, should be of utmost
importance to the people of Houston County.
The Board will soon hear the recommendations of the Planning &
Zoning Commission. The present restrictive regulation on the
Constitutional use of buildings is a significant factor in our County’s
poor economic condition. There are people hurting and present zoning
regulations contribute to that problem. Restrictions on the use of
private buildings for small and home-based businesses diminish economic
opportunities and the self-employment possibilities that would
otherwise abound. It is imperative that the use of private buildings be
restored to those who own those buildings.
In view of the paramount importance of this issue, this letter has been
transmitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission for their
consideration.
Edgar Jacobson, Policy Analyst
Keep Minnesota Green Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 141538
Minneapolis MN 55414
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Support the effort to have Gordy Bauer inducted into Hall of Fame |
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To the Editor:
Neil Morey and I are heading up the drive to get Gordy Bauer elected to
the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame later this summer.
Gordy, as most of you remember, led the Caledonia town team to a runner
up finish in the 1964 Minnesota Amateur Baseball Tournament. Gordy had
a 4-0 state tournament record, allowing one earned run in 36 innings.
He earned the Governor’s Trophy as the MVP of the state tournament.
Gordy was also an outstanding hitter, pitcher, and outfielder for the
town team for a number of years, and served as a player/manager in
later years.
We will have sign-up sheets and official nomination forms available at
area and county businesses. With your great community support,
hopefully we’ll score the winning run this summer, and see Caledonia’s
most deserving player and person inducted into the Minnesota Amateur
Basement Hall of Fame.
Deadline for letters of support and signatures is June 25, 2008.
Letters can be sent to: Bob Karn, Minnesota Amateur Basement Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 7705, St. Cloud, MN 56302-7705.
Spencer Yohe and Neil Morey
Caledonia, Minn.
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Reckless spending has cost us dearly |
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To the Editor:
Last week the managing editor for The Argus told about the borrowing
(bonding) Congressman Tim Walz wants to do in 2009. I’m sure some
of the causes are very worthy, but his spending on earmarks and pork
barrel items has helped push our economy to the brink. The
government is printing new money in an effort to keep the economy
going. As a result, our dollars are being devalued and all of the
prices for food, clothing and daily needs of families rise
dramatically. You can blame oil companies for making big profits,
but the cost of fuel is really being manipulated by our legislators. As
the dollar plummets in value, the cost of oil (gold, silver,
commodities) soars. The people who are being hurt the most by Rep.
Walz’s legislation are those on fixed income and families.
It is always nice to hand out free gifts to people, but gifts have to
be paid for. Rep. Walz seems to think he can make businesses pay for
his spending. At a time when the economy is shaky, families need
good paying jobs for all the increases. We don’t need to drive
established companies out of business or cause more companies to move
jobs overseas. We need our government to be fiscally responsible,
a healthy business climate and officials who really understand the
consequences of their actions.
Rep. Walz term has been a disappointment even to his most ardent
supporters. He has damaged homeland security, cut off funds for
basic supplies to our troops in the field, and instead of bringing our
soldiers home has helped to destabilize Iraq and lengthened the time
our soldiers may have to remain. Although claiming to know family
values, he has cut off funding for abstinence training and promoted
funding for abortion providers. His reckless spending (along with
almost the whole Congress) has cost all of us dearly.
I have a new hope for 2009. It is not in Rep. Walz and new
borrowing. It is in a fiscally conservative Republican candidate,
Dr. Brian Davis.
Paul Ibisch
La Crescent, Minn.
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April is National Social Worker Month |
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To the Editor:
April is National Social Worker Month. Although Houston County is a
small community, it has many hard working social workers who
deserve recognition for their efforts. Social workers touch the lives
of many children, families and adults, not only through the Human
Services Department, but also through schools and the medical and
mental health community. The job of a social worker can be frustrating,
thankless and tiring. However, the rewards of advocating for the best
interests of children and the protection of others in need certainly
outweigh the difficulties. Social workers really do touch people’s
lives in a positive way. The Children’s Justice Initiative appreciates
their hard work and dedication to making people’s lives better.
Suzanne Bublitz, Member
Children’s Justice Initiative
Houston County Division
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