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I have just read the article in today's Winona Post
about this annexation and I am appalled at the city's ultimatum to
Wilson Township.
from the Post article...'Hood also indicated that the
city would be willing to resume meeting with the township on the overall
orderly annexation plan for the long term, but only after the township
agrees to the Phillips and Sweetwater annexations.'
What is that?? I have read it and reread it
and I cannot believe it.
Is the city
council panicked by what might happen once a new council is seated
in January? I have been told that the mayor
appointed a Sweetwater partner to the city's Environmental Quality
Board. Is this a conflict of interest, especially since the
annexation appears to be far from settled?
Janice has made some very
good points in her post. Once one developer/land owner is given
'special treatment' others will hope to get the same.
Janice states that she is not
anti-development, but I think I may be. What was once beautiful
farm land is now houses that all look the same. And it is not just in
Winona county, this is happening where ever you go. Who is going
to feed this country and the world for that matter, when all valuable
farm land is put into lots for houses? Perhaps readers don't think
that is a valid concern but it is. I don't have a problem when
houses are kept on a minimum of 5 acres or more. But these
developments are nothing more than tiny towns, the houses are so close
together.
And just why can't Mr
Phillips build his development in Wilson township? As long as this is
what he wants to do why not give that tax base to Wilson instead of the
city of Winona? Is there some variance he would need from Wilson
township for a development? The land is IN Wilson township, why not just
leave the development in Wilson township? Has anyone ever answered
this? Is it only about water and sewer? Anyone who builds in
the country should assume they will need their own water and sewer, that
is part of living in the country. I know of some small
developments where a certain number of houses share the same well, I do
not know if this is still allowed.
I agree with Janice that this
whole process should be taken very slowly and carefully.
And after reading this
current article, I think the slower the better. Someone wants this
passed way too quickly. I certainly hope this is not democracy in action
in Winona county.
Linda
Fort |
[Winona Online
Democracy]
Last month I attended the City Council meeting
where two developers requested the City Council consider moving their request
along by taking their petition for annexation to the State. Their request was
prompted by the lack of movement from Wilson Township and the City
Council to move quickly on an orderly annexation agreement.. I was happy
to see the Council not react directly and say they will take it
into consideration. The City and Township are currently trying to
come up with an orderly annexation agreement. These two developers want
to be excluded from this agreement and be able to move on with their
developments. The Phillips property is one and a half miles from City
boundries. Originally he proposed to the City that he would have 150 or
more developable acres. The City based their decision (in part) on the tax
base this would bring to the City. As time has gone on, due to
environmental concerns, Jason Phillips is now down to 80 acres or less of his
developable property. The reduction of his developable acres is based on
his engineers proposal. To my knowledge the DNR and other Environmental
agencies that will eventually get involved, have not stepped in yet to have
their say. They will be looking at this from a much more critical eye
than a developers engineer. How many other acres will be deemed undevelopable
after they step in? How much more tax base will dwindle from this
development?
There have been a number of us who have pushed
against this annexation due to environmental concerns, cost, safety
issues, and quality of life in Pleasant Valley as well as the affects on all
of Winona. As you can see from the information stated above, we are not
blowing smoke! Our concerns for this development are legitimate.
Before, I get blown out of the water about being anti-development, I want to
state, I am not anti-development. I am for responsible, sensible,
financial and feasible development. I am also for preserving our Townships
which boils down to preserving the environment and a different lifestyle
choice.
I understand that in a recent
letter, the City Council attorney has encouraged them to
move forward with pursuing a State arbitrator to step in for these two
developer's requests. I have asked this before, can anyone tell me where I can
find out the amount of tax payers money to settle the Winona Township
annexation?. I have heard upwards of $800,000.00. I will predict
this battle with Wilson Township will cost the taxpayers more. I hope
the taxpayers of Winona are paying attention. They will be paying for this
developer to line his pockets. They will be paying for infrastructure
and services for his development. And for how many acres??? And for what
logical reason???
This developer has the right to develop. He
bought his property in Wilson Township one and half miles from the
City. He should be developing with the Township at this point if he
wants to move his development along without waiting for an
orderly annexation plan. His attorney stated he is loosing
money with the hold up. Yet he is proposing the City tax payers pay for an
arbitrator to step in. How much money should the tax payers loose on this
development? Money that could be spent for far better
purposes.
Smart planning on the developers part should have
been looking into the annexation issues prior to buying if he wanted to
develop with the City. Now he requests the City to speed his annexation
petition along and exclude him from the orderly annexation plan. Why
should he not have to play by the rules? What about the next developer
that comes along that doesn't want to be included in the orderly annexation
plan? The City Council will be setting a precedent on how they move
forward with this request. If they allow Phillips and Sweetwater to move
outside the orderly annexation, it will be hard to deny another developer. How
many litigations do the tax payers want to pay for? Granted the orderly
annexation agreement is not yet in place, but it has been a proposal long
before Sweetwater and Phillip's request. The Township is looking for
something reasonable from the City. The last plan given to the Township
basically puts the entire Township under the City Councils rule, no
development in the townships unless it is annexed. Oh come
on!!!
Let your City Officials know how you feel about
this. Don't waste your taxed dollars. Growth, annexation,
development can happen without this financial battle. It can happen
in a responsible, orderly and financially feasible way. The orderly
annexation plan is a huge step. It is not going to happen over night,
nor should it. The plan should be well thought out and agreed to by both
sides. There needs to be time for our local governments
to work on this without a threat from developers and the State The
Township and the City are both on the extreme ends right now with the orderly
annexation plan, they need time to meet in the middle. Granted this time
does not work to the benefit of these two developers, but what is the best
interest of EVERYONE and for the long term not the immediate future!
Janice Turek
Contact Your Local Elected Officials
Just click on the email link to automatically open an email to the
selected official.
1. City Mayor Jerry Miller
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
507/452-5996
265 West Broadway
Winona, MN 55987
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2. City 1st Ward Councilman Allyn Thurley
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
507/454-3993
1566
Heights Blvd.
Winona, MN 55987 |
3. City 2nd Ward Councilman Gerry Krage
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
507/452-4404
420
Sioux Street
Winona, MN 55987 |
4. City 3rd Ward Councilman Chris Arnold
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
507/458-5216
660 Lafayette Street
Winona, MN 55987
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5. City 4th Ward Councilman George Borzyskowski
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
507/454-4463
128
Lohse Drive
Winona, MN 55978 |
6. City At-Large Councilman Thomas G. (Tim) Breza
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
507/454-4881
1341 Skyline Drive
Winona, MN 55987
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