Posted 1/24/01 Population growth must not be whispered about To the editor: Minnesota currently has a population growth rate equal to China and Zimbabwe. According to October, 2000 population numbers gathered from the State Demographerís office and the Population Reference Bureau out of Washington D.C., and now recent census figures show that Minnesota is the fastest growing state in the midwest. And consider that in the past 10 years Chisago County, one of the fastest growing counties in the state, has grown nearly four times faster than the national rate. North Branch alone has grown just under six times faster than the current U.S. rate of growth or half that of China and Zimbabwe. Chisago Lake Township has grown nearly four times faster than the national average and Wyoming Township has grown a whopping seven times faster. It is no surprise that three of the 10 North Branch goals for 2001, as noted by the recently published North Branch Administratorís Budget message, included the word ìexpansion.î Small gradations of growth rate such as the growth rate over the last 10 years: 3.7 percent for Chisago County or 5.8 percent for North Branch seem innocuous. But it is not so difficult to picture twice as much of anything - doubling gets our attention. Doubling also marks major change. Twice as many cars, twice as much noise, twice as many houses, or twice the cost of a commodity is easily seen as important. Likewise, the doubling time for a population has major implications for space and services, competition for access or time and stress on natural areas. Doubling time can be important because it may indicate crossing a threshold that taxes the abilities of communities to manage resources (such as school enrollment, traffic congestion, road construction, sewer and water, and police and fire protection). And studies, including a recent one called the Cost of Growth for the State of Washington, clearly show that residential development is a fiscal burden to existing residents. More people mean more services and schools. Following the tragic shootings of students in Littleton, Colorado, students were surveyed. They felt that when the school became too big the sense of community was lost. Cliques and gangs formed as a result of some groups of kids looking for their own ìcommunity.î With the spiraling growth rate it is no surprise that area schools are constantly dealing with overcrowding school issues. North Branch is considering a school referendum this spring. And this comes less than four years after the last major school construction took place. Forest Lake and Chisago Lakes are other area schools that are currently or have recently had to deal with rapidly growing enrollments. More people means more schools. And if we are going to provide quality education we need to provide decision-makers and residents to stand up and speak of a vision that looks well beyond this or even the next generation. Growth for growthís sake is not healthy. Such growth assumes no boundaries. It cannot happen without compromising quality of life. And quality of life must include those systems that sustain us such as watersheds, aquifers, clean air, open space and natural communities. This past fall, campaign rhetoric among commissioners and councilpersons, particularly in North Branch, Harris, Stacy and the Wyoming and Chisago Lakes areas often revolved around the issue of ìgrowth.î The various Comprehensive Plans from county to city all seem to have a common denominator in that they strive to maintain a rural character, once that reinforces the quality of life that residents want to experience. What can you do? Speak up, not out of anger but come from a voice of passion, a voice that speaks of a willingness to help rather than alienate. The commissioners and council members work for you. It is their job to listen to everyone. Their performance review on how they do their job is issued during their election Be creative in coming to solutions. Other communities around the U.S. have adopted Growth Control Ordinances in order to maintain a quality of life desired by the residents. Successful models are out there. We have an opportunity to create a county and communities that can be looked at as models rather than jurisdictions that only follow their neighbors. Population growth is a subject that must not be whispered about. Speak out. Talk to your state and federal representatives. It will not go away with a silent constituency. Tom Anderson, North Branch ©Post Review