Posted 9/19/01 Growth must slow way down To the editor: At the City Council meeting on September 10, one member (Amy Oehlers) stood up and voted to deny the Woodduck Ponds Development. She stated the schools, as well as our roads were overburdened. The other four members Mayor Pinsonneault, Rod Lofquist, John Pace Jr., and Roger Else all voted for an additional 146 homes to be built in this new development. I guess they donít feel that there is any problem with the schools or the roads, as they voted for more overcrowding. On Wednesday afternoon on the way home from work there was a terrible accident on I-35 that my husband and I witnessed. We were able to help. When the police, fire and ambulance arrived we left. We had just turned on to 95 East and witnessed a county police blazer trying, and I mean trying to get over the bridge. You must remember it was around 4:00 and the traffic was backed up to Motel 8. The blazer had to drive half way on the divider. When he got to the traffic light, he had to go on the eastbound side of 95 to get to the overpass. It took him quite a while to get over the bridge. Is that what life has come to here in North Branch with the traffic? Each and every time we vote another development in without the bridge expansion, we tighten the noose around our own necks. Members on the council have stated we donít have any control as to how quickly the state will expand the bridge. And they are right. BUT they do have control as to how many developments (homes) they let in. We have let the council know we donít want all the homes. We donít want to stop growth but slow it WAY down. Why donít they listen. Theresa Furman North Branch ©Post Review