There is a misperception by the Winona public on
who is paying the lawyer fees. The City had announced back in December
that the developers were picking up the fees up to $50,000 each. This
was in the newspapers. What the public doesn't realize is that these
developers will be reimbursed if the annexation goes through. THEREFORE,
the public does pay for the legal fees. This was not in the newspaper
with the article back in December. The reimbursement comes in the
way of the developrs not needing to pay for the first 3 developed acres, which
should be $17,000 per acre paid to the City. The Citizens for Responsible
Community Growth have documents supporting this agreement. We ran an article
about two months ago trying to inform the public. As far as legal cost to
$100,000, anyone who has called the City protesting the annexation and paying
the legal fees. has been told they are being paid by the developers. I
know this personally because I have talked to a few people who called the City
and they let me know what was said.
It sounds to me that the developers have
basically hired the City to fight this annexation battle. I wonder if this
is legal? A private enterprise paying the City lawyer and the City
doing the work. Who pays for staff time, meeting time, and all the other
costs involved in the process. Can I hire the City to fight an issue I am
having? Does anyone out there have a thought or information on
this?
The battle for Winona Township cost tax payers
$800,000. I am not sure what it takes for the citizens of Winona to pay
attention. Janice Turek
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 8:28
AM
Subject: [Winona] Wilson
[Winona Online Democracy]
To my understanding the residents of Wilson
Township voted to increase their taxes to pay the lawyer fees to fight this
forced annexation.
Why* am I not hearing any citizens of Winona
commenting on who/how their lawyer fees are being paid?
Are the citizens of the city not realizing their
taxes are going to go up to pay for a lawyer.
I hope and pray the courts will rule in favor of
Wilson Township and this entire forced annexation issue will be
dead.
It should never have been an issue to begin with.
According to yesterday;s daily news article Mr
Sorenson comments that there appears to be mistrust.
You bet I do and I don't even live in Wilson
Township.
Linda Fort
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