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Let’s protect our property rights before they are gone
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To the Editor:
Recent events concerning landowners rights have lead (sic) me to believe that good old common sense have left (sic) the building.
I ask you? “Who should have the right to make privately owned property decisions?”
Is there such a thing anymore or is it just an allusion (sic)? Actually I think it goes something like this: You can do what you want on your property as long as you; don’t cause harm to someone else by your endeavors, have the county’s permission, have paid the fees involved, as long as your neighbors approve, and let’s not forget those who may drive by your property and deem you worthy or unworthy to continue with your present activities.
Local government officials seem to be saying, “We need to make more and more zoning regulations for these land owners because they are not smart enough to manage their properties without our “Expert help”. (sic)
It seems irrelevant to county officials that land owners have made a life decision to purchase property in Houston County, become community members, and pay taxes here. Shouldn’t they be trying to help those motivated individuals rather than make it more difficult and expensive to comply with the increased regulations of property ownership and usage?
The recent document presented to the commissioners by the land owners group with the intent to sue describes multiple examples of how the county exercised ownership interest in deciding how privately owned property could be used. At least 27 times, the county prevented a landowner from building a second home on privately owned parcels of less than 40 acres. In other examples, the county forced land owners to build in a location other than where the land owner wanted to build. If you are interested in a copy by email please send a request to
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Another good resource to become informed on this issue can be found at www.renewamerica.com/columns/lamb/100502.
Personally I feel it is unnecessary to escalate this into a lawsuit at this time. The landowner’s citizen group, with some ground rules established based on property rights mandated by the federal and state government would like to work out a resolution, which at this point the commissioners are unwilling to do.
Come on, Jack Miller 1st District, Larry Connery 2nd District, Robert Augedahl 3rd District, David Corcoran 4th District and Tom Bjerke 5th District, let’s sit down and get this done. The landowners are asking about simple changes, easy fixes, and fair treatment. Let’s work together to roll back some of these zoning regulations that have become too invasive.
It’s the right thing to do.
Houston County Landowner
Larie Wohlert
Spring Grove, Minn.
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Letter carriers food drive fills the shelves
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To the Editor:
On May 11 the letter carriers held their annual food drive. They collected 1,291 pounds in Caledonia, 1,320 in La Crescent and 798 pounds in Spring Grove for a grand total of 3,409 pounds donated to the Semcac Food Shelf.
A project like this takes much planning and hard work. The food donated will help many families in need in our county. The project was a great success.
Iyla Mulvenna
Food Shelf Manager
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Let’s enforce illegal immigration
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To the Editor:
After reading a recent letter blasting us for sponsoring a bill that addresses illegal immigration, we thought a brief rebuttal was in order.
Very simply, our bill requires law enforcement to enforce current illegal immigration laws. Since the current administration has failed to address the illegal immigration problem in the United States, we simply believe our state should take it upon itself to enforce the law.
That’s it.
The argument regarding what illegal immigration has meant for our economy, as in chipping in for payroll taxes, is laughable. So are the attempts to portray this as a racial issue. Illegal is not a color, it is a behavior. Illegal immigrants are not living in this country legally, so how can any of these ends justify the means?
We wholeheartedly support immigration – the legal variety. But when it comes to illegal activity, we support the laws being followed and the problems being dealt with appropriately. Illegal immigration is exactly that – illegal. And like any other law breaking activity, we believe it should be addressed, not ignored.
State Rep. Steve Drazkowski
Mazeppa
State Rep. Greg Davids
Preston
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Maybe we’re all responsible for gridlock
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Is it possible that we the people are responsible for the gridlock in Washington and St. Paul?
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Read more...
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How can we have dialog?
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To the Editor:
The county commissioners say they would like the concerned landowners to “talk like grown ups on the land use issue.” That is exactly what the landowners have been trying to do, meeting after meeting.
We have asked them to use their microphones at the meetings so that we could hear them respond. But they do not use them and it makes one wonder if they really want our participation.
When a landowner does speak up, there seems to be an endless number of excuses used by the commissioners for not letting them to be heard. I can remember the one meeting where Kelleher pointed his finger at Chris Von Arx while he was speaking, and said to Chris, “One more word out of you and I’ll have you removed.” And at a recent commissioners meeting Commissioner Connery did the same thing to a landowner who was speaking, “Any more out of you and I’ll have you removed.” Is this why the Sheriff deputies are at these meeting, to remove the landowner who is speaking if the chairman wants him removed because he said the wrong words or to intimidate the landowners present at these meetings. I want to ask, “How can there be a meaningful dialogue between the landowners and the commissioners when you are continually being threatened by the chairman to have you removed if you say another wrong word. Think about it.
Berdell Meiners
Caledonia, Minn.
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Time for a change?
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To the Editor:
Time to file to be a candidate for a county office, to include commissioner, is now! If you are a United States citizen and a resident of Houston County and are 18 years of age or older, you qualify to become a candidate. You must file at the Houston County Auditor’s office, 304 Marshall St., Room 111, Caledonia between May 18 and June 1.
The filing fee is $50. The county offices to be voted upon in the 2010 primary and general election are- Commissioner District 2 and District 4, auditor, treasurer, recorder, sheriff and attorney.
I would say check your local newspaper for more details, however, our current county officers may not want you to run against them and therefore not publish these important voter facts.
You may be the exact person that is needed for the benefits of all county residents.
The perfect candidate will be a person that strongly believes in a government by the people, for the people and of the people. Are you a person who is willing to listen to and talk with the voters of Houston County instead of hiring outside Attorney’s at the expense of the voters? The pay isn’t bad either. A commissioner makes over $18,600.
The time for you to step up is now! All land owners rights, 40 acres to build a home, voters who feel that spending is getting out of hand (in 2004 expenses were $16,230,654 and in 2010 the estimate expenses are $24,559,588) and similar items such as the CJC or constitutional rights, this is an excellent opportunity for you.
God bless Houston County.
Larry Salm
Caledonia, Minn.
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