Letter: Let's put $320,000 to better use

To the Editor:

Red Wing residents, what would you say if the city decided to implement an unrequested, unwanted $300,000 construction project in your neighborhood? That’s the predicament Hallquist and Eunice Avenue residents find themselves in as the Red Wing City council is deciding to add sidewalks to our mature, tree-lined neighborhood, all in the thinly veiled name of safety or “connectivity.”

As I canvassed our neighborhood last month there were three main reasons 77 percent of the residents were strongly opposed to this sidewalk plan:

1. At least 30-40 mature oak, maple, spruce trees and other residential landscaping will be replaced with … concrete. So much for being a green city.

2. Homeowners will be assessed a third of the cost of this project with no guarantee it will increase the value of our property. In fact with the destruction of the tree canopy our market values could actually decrease.

3. Quite frankly, there must be higher priority needs in Red Wing to invest $320,000, at least a third of which will be borrowed. Repairing current sidewalks, street renovations, public safety concerns, funding the library, keeping Colvill Pool open, funding youth programs are just few of the areas that would be a much better use of taxpayer money.

In closing, not one resident I talked to requested or was enthusiastic about the project. Red Wingers, take a look around your neighborhood and contact your council members if you can find a better use of these funds. I can assure you many residents on Hallquist and Eunice would gladly support your request.

Cory Doden

Red Wing

Tags: opinion, letters