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Itís not so bad living in Chisago County

Iím not a ìliferî as some residents of Chisago County are, but I have spent 34 years of my life here. And I like it here.
I like being able to watch the sunrise with big, puffy pink clouds breaking up into blue skies. I like hearing the birds call out ìgood morningî to each other, watch the cardinals feed their young in my backyard and having to stop for a mother goose and her goslings to cross the road.
I like driving past fields of corn and hay, especially right after the hay has been cut. I like fishing in the lakes where egrets, eagles and blue herons fly overhead and entertain me. I like waving hello to folks I meet as I drive down our quiet neighborhood streets.
I like shopping in stores where the owner greets you behind the counter. I like seeing new homes built and new people, with new ideas and new dreams, joining us in this wonderful life. I like county fairs, community festivals, school plays, Legion baseball games and concerts in the park. I like watching the sun sink into orange and purple skies each night.
This is Chisago County. If you were born here, no one has to tell you how good life is here. If you moved here 30-40 years ago, youíve settled in and obviously are planning to stay.
If you moved here in that last 10 years or less, youíre the new kids on the block, but Iíd bet you have a vested interest in your communities, too. Why else would you be here?
I admit, I only attended one of the public input meetings as the county works on revision of the comprehensive plan, but Iíll bet the people attending the other three had much the same ideas about what they want this county to be like in five-10 years. Iíve heard it over and over at many a county meeting.
The thing that bothers me, though, as we work to make some changes in the plan, is how much people can gripe about what we already have.
Iíve heard on not a few occasions about how there is nothing for teenagers to do in this county. Wrong. There are so many fine organizations out there working with and for young people I donít understand where this is coming from. Take a look at what the youths accomplished at the county fair. 4-H offers so many avenues for young people I donít think thereís a kid in the area that couldnít find something of interest in that program. And that is only one of the opportunities. Iíve heard gripes about the schools. If they are so bad, how come many of our students have gone on to become excellent leaders, successful professionals and well-respected citizens?
I hear people complain about people moving into the community - growth, they say is out of control. I hear people say our libraries are bad. You should have listened to Judge Linn Slattengren talk about how appreciative the people of Ghana are for a few old books. I hear people complain about narrow bridges and potholes and lack of industry or too much pollution or too little control over housing developments.
It really bothers me to hear so much negativism about our beautiful county. Of course, thereís room for improvement, but we wonít be changing bad for good, only making the best better. Thatís what I think.

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