[Winona Online Democracy] Phil and Roy make great points.
I agree with most of what they have to say. In regards to Roy's last post. 1. There is no such thing as "non-polluting cars." The new hybrid and electric cars are not zero emission, they are emission elsewhere. Using current energy sources, you still need to use coal, nuclear, or natural gas to create the electricity that runs the electrical parts of the new cars. Plus more energy goes into the making of the car than it uses over it's life use cycle, something called embodied energy. Water pollution resulting from the runoff from impervious surfaces from roads, parking lots, driveways, garage roof tops (sometime now as big as the rest of the house), etc. will only increase. What is the number? Something like 30-40% of any city's land is used for some kind of car related function. Is that a efficient or sustainable use of land? Full Disclosure: My family owns two cars. I don't hate cars. It's a system problem. 2. Isn't it ironic that people move out to the country to get away from busy roads and traffic problems and they only end up bringing the problems with them as they leap frog outward? Is there a better way? 3. Will County Hwy 17 (running out to Pleasant Valley) look like County Hwy 21 (running out to Gilmore Valley) in a few years? Will the City annex the land but not be willing to pay for the additional road damage and use? I do have some pragmatic suggestions but what's the use of presenting them if people: 1. Aren't aware of bigger issues... 2. Don't care about bigger issues... and/or 3. Are thinking and acting based on myths and inaccurate assumptions. Case in point. Today Jerome Christenson wrote an ode to development on the editorial page. That article could be a poster child of everything wrong about "growth" mythology. In the article he wrote: "If the proposed annexation increases the value of the [Mayor Jerry] Millers' Township property, it is safe to say the property surrounding it will also increase in value, which would seem to be a good thing for those property owners and, arguably, a good thing for the whole township...." Rising property values and suburbs in the "countryside" are the death knell for family farmers. It helps a few developers get rich but it hurts more people than it helps. If short term profit for a few is a "good" thing, then it makes it sense. But what about the other short and long term impacts on others, our children, and grandchildren? There is a concept in economics called the "Tragedy of the Commons." In a nutshell, when individuals blindly pursue short term profit without regard for anything else, it may mean disaster for the wider community or bigger system. I'm not opposed to capitalism per se. It's one of the greatest inventions in human history. But the economic and accounting systems it depends on need to be accurate, honest, and there have to be checks and balances built in to the political system it is also a part of. Is growth automatically a good thing? Are bigger and better one in the same? Might growth actually be a root problem that drives many others? Can we keep on doing for the next 50 years what humanity has been doing for the last 50 years? World population. The biggie. The problem some people are aware of. The problem most realize is incredibly important. The problem no one is willing to deal with at a local, state, national, or global levels in serious ways. Should we just ignore the short and long term consequences of growth and take the easy path and just build wherever and whenever? Developers make money by developing. Planners make money by helping developers develop. What is the role of citizens, grandparents, religious leaders, and others who care about the other issues of traffic congestion, pollution, loss of family farms, etc. that growth cause? The Rev. Scott Olson wrote a wonderful guest editorial two weeks ago in the Winona Daily News about people and a community needing to have a direction and purpose. What do we want to become? What do we want to look like and be like in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 years? I know the "vision thing" is easier said than done but it's essential. I'm getting around to concrete suggestions for the Wilson Township dilemma. Honestly. :-> Dwayne Voegeli June 23, 2004 ------------ > >[Winona Online Democracy] > >Dwayne certainly has reason to be concerned about world and U.S. population >growth, but the enormous political and religious issues-acceptable policies >on birth control, immigration, prioritization of medical treatment, economic >development in the third world, to mention a few-make any solutions >problematical for a long time. Solutions acceptable to one group are >anathema to another. Maybe there will be no ultimate solution and the world >will simply implode. > > > >But Phil is correct in pointing out that we do have problems in the state >right now that must be addressed regardless of overall demographic issues. >Winona will continue to have problems in the short run. Although in the next >century Winona County's population could decline while that of the large >urban areas increase, the current housing trends in the county suggest a >transfer of population from central Winona to outlying areas. Vehicle use is >expanding and non-polluting cars will simply replace the current >gas-consuming ones without reducing traffic problems. > > > >City and county officials must give attention to future road needs. Any >approval of new developments should be accompanied by plans of new road >needs and the means by which needs might be met, with cost issues and >sources of funding (including state) spelled out. It would be useful, >moreover, if officials could present information on their plans for meeting >the current problems caused by the expansion of buildings along the arteries >leading into and out of Winona. The upcoming elections should involve >discussion of these issues. > > >Roy Nasstrom > > >_______________________________________________ >This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy >All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. >No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. >To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit >http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona >Any problems or suggestions can be directed to >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at > http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org > ------------ Dwayne Voegeli Winona County Commissioner, District #2 (507) 453-9012 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 359 Pleasant Hill Dr. Winona, MN 55987 ------------ _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
