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OpinionMerge three cities, donít annexTo the editor: The New Year is upon us and the winds of change are blowing hard out of Chisago City. Our community of rural resident tracts, farms, and large open spaces is about to change if Chisago City gets their wish. Their plan to annex 11,000 acre into the city will change that area to city zoning that does not have to comply with the county zoning or comprehensive plan. We will have a city from the county line all the way up Hwy, 8 to Center City except the small piece that separates Lindstrom from Chisago. We can look forward to high density developments along Green Lake (high density is what cities do best) and commercial along the high traffic areas. Now in this resolution from Chisago City they ask the other cities to annex the rest of the Township, in other words wiping it from the map. This is all to be done in the name of growing their city. The quote from the city administrator Mr. Pechman ìOur view is weíre trying to make a bigger and better community... We want to be the ones to plan that community.î Does this sound like community spirit or control? Mr. Pechman also said, ìThe county is seeing tremendous growth, and we only have eight acres available ... I donít have anywhere to put these businesses that are looking in this area to locate. We donít have any options left.î Now maybe this doesnít sound like what you have read in the local paper, maybe thatís why it is in the Forest Lake Press that doesnít make out of the Forest Lake school district. I will put forward two options for the city, live within your present boundary, as the only business that would need that amount of land mass is one that didnít want you. Remember that local government should be cost effective, responsive to the citizens, and not redundantly wasteful. Letís look at what we have within six miles on Hwy. 8 there are 3 cities each with a mayor, council, public works and two have administrators. They all belong to the same joint powers sewer, the same school district, they share the same lakes, they have the same cultural background and none of them get a share of the state gas tax for roads as they are under 5000 population. Oh letís not forget that all 3 of them are cities, the same form of government. That brings me to the other option that Chisago City merge with Center City and Lindstrom. The cost effective option not the option that make the lawyers rich. The people get to study it, debate it, and vote on it. So there you have it which plan sounds better. Donald Waller ©ECM Post Review |