To the editor:

Chisago County Commissioners Robinson, Gustafson, and Olseen committed the county (thatís you and me) to one of the biggest ìBoondogglesî in county history. They voted to sell 80 acres, a county asset, for $1.00 to build a new nursing home. There are no guarantees this will be built and if not, we donít get the 80 acres back. This land is worth, at the present time, approximately $2.8 million. When rezoned to R1 residential, on sewer and water, the value could double.
Ecumen, the nursing home operator, has been losing money for some time and unable to make payments to the county for its operation.

The state has closed more than 20 nursing homes and yet the county commissioners have stubbornly taken this road.

When and if the city of North Branch rezones, 300 to 400 homes could be built on this acreage. Will this put a strain on the infrastructure? You bet! Plan on building more schools.

Ecumen also wants TIF to sweeten this deal.
North Branch council and planning meetings will be taking place in the next couple of weeks to decide if this ìBoondoggleî will take place. (Council meeting 7 p.m. on Feb. 14.)

If you, and I mean all city and county residents, feel your taxes arenít high enough, just keep ignoring what is going on and come property tax time, you will be part of the largest blood draw ever.
The City and County will take the last drops you can give.

Barb Burrington
North Branch

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