Letter: City's misuse of numbers not new

To the Editor:

I read the comments on Kent Laugen's finding of misleading our community's concept of job creation in Red Wing (R-E, May 19). It made me think back on our 40 years here in rural Welch, specifically Burnside Township.

I hear from neighbors the edginess about being “annexed” to the city over 40 years ago for the tax advantage of the new nuclear plant. Then a gun club proposed buying land near us to shoot and frolic until it was pointed out it would be better not to shoot off the top of a hill.

Then the city mistakenly thought we in the rural area were receiving the same services as the city proper and should be taxed accordingly. We pointed out that we are not provided water, sewer, garbage pickup, etc. So other ways using land values, zoning wordage, etc., allowed tax increases. Bottom line: In the past 40 years our real estate taxes have increased nearly 2,000 percent ($150 per year to $3,000 per year).

Then prime farmland between two rivers, at the top of a Burnside hill was considered by the city to be a dream come true for dumping city sludge. Dodged that bullet.

Uffda!

Emily Burt

Welch

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