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Citizen offers a wake-up call

To the editor:
Crying over spilled milk seems to be what the citizens of North Branch are doing now that the cost of excessive growth is in their laps.
Monday night I listened to citizens that had the opportunity months ago to help slow the growth. It didnít directly affect them at the time, so they didnít care. Well, it has come home to roost.
The cost of greed of a few has fallen on the shoulders of all of us. Believe me, the council will do what they want. You will pay. We all will.
Taxes have increased dramatically this year and will continue until we have businesses, not more homes, to shoulder the burden.
The minute you see a development, itís too late to stop it. You must keep abreast of whatís going on. Is it on a paved road? Will the infrastructure be able to keep up (sewer treatment plant, schools, fire department, etc.)? Ask yourself and the city council, ìWhat will this cost me?î Development, time after time, has proven it does not pay for itself. We pay for schools, roads, plowing, all the extra streets (we must buy a new plow this year) and the list goes on.
Last night one of our local developers cried the blues over raised fees. He led us to believe they were too high and said it compared to Woodbury. Well I sat at the comp plan meetings and work sessions and listened to our city planner continually comparing us to Plymouth, Brainerd and Woodbury.
These areas have high growth patterns. Why shouldnít our fees compare to them?
If, like some council members imply, that development pays for itself, ask why are we falling further behind every year and why we shoulder the burdens of new schools, etc. Letís have the school impact fee and have those making the money off of development pay for it.
We can pressure the state legislature to enact this fee. They are not illegal (according to the Attorney Generalís office); they just arenít on the books.
Be involved. Just a phone call or e-mail could save us a lot of money. Donít wait until the milk has been spilled and itís your turn for upgrade assessments.
Barbara Burrington
North Branch

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