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What is good for the goose is good for the gander |
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To the Editor:
It is my understanding that Houston County has been involved in land
use planning within Houston County for at least the past 40 years and
is currently revisiting and perhaps revamping land use policies for the
county.
I am not actually giving my support for or against the necessity of
such land use policies. However, I do believe it to be questionable and
perhaps hypocritical of the current county board to take the position
that it is perfectly alright for them to dictate to private landowners
what they may or may not do with their property, yet, when the city of
Caledonia’s land use policies restrict the county’s use of their land
in regards to the building of the CJC, rather than respect the city’s
rules, they have filed a lawsuit against the city to force the issue.
The county board should respect the city’s rules and work with the city to find a more suitable location for the CJC.
There is an old adage which I believe could easily apply to this situation, “what is good for the goose is good for the gander!”
Respectfully submitted by,
Bruce Bulman,
Caledonia, MN
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Become informed on this health issue |
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To the Editor:
“You absolutely need a hysterectomy. I cancelled another surgery, see
you first thing tomorrow morning.” Do not become a victim to the
surgeon’s knife because of lack of information. Hysterectomy (removal
of uterus)/castration (removal of ovaries) is a damaging surgery and
has lifelong consequences. No drugs or other treatments can replace
ovarian or uterine hormones that are essential to a woman’s health and
well-being throughout her life.
I have listened first hand to many horrifying stories of women 20-80
years of age. A young lady of only 21 has captured my heart. She is now
a victim of this lifelong devastating surgery and cannot believe what
is happening to her body.
I was fortunate to be with a young lady in her early 30s who had some
bleeding and polyps. She did find an alternative doctor who did just
what she wanted, a polypectomy. No D&C, no hysterectomy, no
castration. There is a doctor/clinic out there for you. Go to
www.hersfoundation.org; read the blog and sign the petition that states
‘say no until you know.’
Protect yourself, get informed. Don’t be a silent victim, speak up.
Women are agreeing to have this surgery based on the little information
their gynecologist tells them. Ask a lot of questions and demand
answers. Remember you are someone’s wife, mother, daughter,
granddaughter and grandmother. Kudos to Grace Gordon Wellendorf and the
Hers Foundation. The Hers Foundation is a life treasure to be shared.
Lynn Gordon Meiners
Caledonia, Minn.
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Congratulations to the Lady Warriors |
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To the Editor:
I am expressing my congratulations to the Caledonia girls basketball
team in their victory over Winona Cotter on Saturday night. It was a
solid victory.
My concern is over the unsportsman-like conduct of Cotter’s star
player, Jenny Gilbertson. Many of Caledonia’s fans saw her throw her
medal into the trash can after the awards ceremony. Too bad she
couldn’t have acted more ‘ladylike’.
Keep up the good work, girls.
Stuart R. Dibley
Caledonia, Minn.
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City has profound misunderstanding of county’s position on CJC issue |
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To the Editor:
In the February 20, 2008 article “City council wants to work out CJC
differences with county” city officials are quoted as saying “there’s
no question the county needs a new jail and we want to work with the
County Board to make it a reality in Caledonia, but it seems unless we
remove all zoning conditions from any potential site, and the city has
absolutely no say as to where the CJC is going to be located, or any of
the planning of it, the county will sue the city….” and further
“… it appears the county wants to move forward with the CJC without any
restrictions or conditions…”
The county has not asked for, or demanded that the county be exempt
from the city’s zoning requirements. The city of Caledonia already has
in place a comprehensive zoning ordinance and zoning map. The
city zoning ordinance designates certain areas as Residential-I,
Residential- II, Business -I, Business -II, Industrial and
Agricultural. Any individual wishing to construct a building in
the city would be required to site their building in the appropriate
zone and meet the already established requirements for that zoning
area. Interestingly, the city’s interpretation of their zoning
ordinance does not currently allow for a CJC (including a jail) in any
zoning district. This, in spite of the fact that the city zoning
map shows the current Houston County Courthouse and Jail (and the first
proposed CJC site on the courthouse campus) as being Residential- II.
The city official’s comments demonstrate a profound misunderstanding of
Houston County’s position. All that Houston County has asked is that
the city designate those zoning areas in which the CJC may be
constructed as a permitted use. A permitted use is a use that, if
in compliance with the general requirements for a particular zoning
district, is allowed without further special conditions. In order to
efficiently and economically plan for, design and construct a new CJC
(including jail) facility, the county needs to know where this facility
can be constructed and what the specific zoning requirements will be,
before the design process is begun.
However, to this point the city has refused to designate the zoning
districts in which the CJC may be built as a permitted
use. Further, and of greater concern to the county,
is the city’s insistence that any CJC not be a “permitted use” but
instead be designated a conditional use. Under Caledonia’s zoning
ordinance, when considering a conditional use application, the city may
order virtually any special terms or conditions which must then be met
in order for the conditional use permit to be granted.
Houston County continues to believe that it is in the best interests of
all Houston County citizens, that the CJC with jail, an essential
county government function, be allowed as a permitted use somewhere in
the city of Caledonia.
Houston County Board
of Commissioners
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Letterwriter thanks commissioners |
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To the editor:
I am writing to thank the Houston County Board of Commissioners for
renewing Section Eight in Houston County. Section Eight is dedicated to
sponsoring subsidized housing for low-income families and individuals.
The Housing Authority signs the lease with landlords and pays the
difference between tenant rent and market value.
I spoke with Southeastern Minnesota Multi-County Housing and
Redevelopment Authority about citizens in Houston County. Continuance
of Section Eight assures that over one hundred Houston County citizens,
families with children, disabled citizens and seniors, will be able to
continue living in their homes for another year.
By renewing Section Eight, the County Commissioners have saved
money in the long run associated with eviction actions, court costs,
homelessness, creation of mental health problems, and more people on
welfare. Again, thank you Board of Commissioners!
Marianne Zerbe-
Minnesota Senior Federation and Houston County
Women’s Resources board member
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Rep. Tschumper needs to get his facts straight on ethanol |
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To the Editor:
Today, I am mindful of three recent headlines in the news 1. Energy
prices sharply higher and crude oil in New York trades at over
$100/barrel. 2. Hugo Chaves threatens to cut off the U.S. from
all oil shipments. 3. Rep.Tschumper takes on ethanol.
Let’s explore the first headline. A refinery
fire in Texas shuts down an aging refinery that produces 67,000 barrels
of gasoline a day. Why would that send the price of energy
higher? America’s refineries can no longer produce enough
unleaded gasoline from crude to run our economy. Energy prices
are also higher because China and India are consuming more
oil. Home grown ethanol to the rescue! It could eventually
replace up to one-third of the imported oil. Oil dollars that go
overseas support unfriendly regimes like Chaves and Moslem theocracies
in the Mideast.
As to the second headline concerning Chaves, why should we care?
The sad truth is that the U.S. imports about 10% of our domestic
use from Venezuela, from someone that hates us. Had we the other
energy resources, wouldn’t we just tell him to keep it? The
Chinese have already offered to take 100% of Venezuela’s output in the
next five years. We could be facing sharply higher prices IF WE
DON’T ACT NOW.
Rep. Tschumper’s new anti-ethanol legislation for
Minnesota is laced with many inaccuracies. Charges of
ill-advised government policy that increases ethanol usage, of
huge ground water use, increased air pollution, soil erosion and
fertilizer runoff, are unfounded. As a farmer himself, he should
know that. Our farmers have never done a better job of preserving
the soil. Practices like no till, ridge till, minimum tillage,
and single pass applications (combining as many as four tasks into one)
have reduced or completely eliminated soil runoff and cut the amount of
fuel used by a third to one-half. Triple stacked genetics have
nearly eliminated the use of insecticides.
Tschumper claims five to six gallons of water are used in the
production of every gallon of ethanol. The true answer is about
three gallons of water--HALF of what he charges and most ethanol
plants’ process water is recycled and reused by the boilers.
According to Minnesota DNR, ethanol production accounts for just 2.5%
of Minnesota’s total industrial use of water. The state’s MINING
industry uses 30 TIMES MORE. Is he writing legislation against
the mining industry?
This is a classic David vs. Goliath story. On one side we have
big oil with deep pockets, (40 BILLION in profits last
year) waging a comprehensive media campaign. Aligned with
big oil, you have foreign dictatorships and Moslem extremists hoping to
bankrupt our economy and undermine our democracy. On the other
side you have a home grown industry, owned by farmers and local
investors participating in an industry that will hopefully contribute a
significant portion of our energy needs by 2022.
Our representative needs to understand that those policies were
created to promote research of ALL renewable fuels. He needs to
come back and join the David camp against Goliath!
Al Hein
Mabel, MN.
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