November 11, 2006
Dear planning chairperson Mary Merlie,
Thank you for your hard work in serving the people as a member of the Plan Commission. This sand pit vote is no longer about the proposed sand pit at Highway 60 and Jones road. It is about representation. It is about whether those that have the power to govern do so wisely and in the interests of the governed. Many years ago, the Boston Tea Party was a rebellion about just such a lack of representation.
The purpose of the office you hold is to serve the interests of the people you represent, the citizens of the Town of Spring Green. There is no controversy about public interest as there was with the recently sited communications tower, which had opinion on both sides of the issue. When you review the petition for a dog kennel, you ask and honor the opinions of the neighbors. Hundreds of citizens of the town of Spring Green have voiced their opposition to this sand pit and requested that additional planning be done prior to approving any nonmetallic mining. There is no reason not to honor these wishes. This is all about how well you listen to the people you are supposed to be serving.
Only the profit of a non-resident business and one landowner stand to benefit the approval of this spot zoning. With so little for the community to gain, why would the members of the plan commission and town board go counter to the comprehensive plan? Because there is no such community interest in approving the Kraemer request, people will rightly be suspicious about the reason for such an approval. Perhaps something is amiss in the local smoke filled rooms.
As Abraham Lincoln informed us many years ago, “ Nearly any man can stand adversity, if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” As our representatives, you have the power, let’s see what the way you use it says about your character.
Sincerely,
Lynne Herrli
Town of Spring Green citizen
Scott Savage
Town of Spring Green citizen