Thursday, March 28th, 2024 Church Directory

Letters To The Editor

TO THE EDITOR:

Recent article in Sherburne County’s Environmental Educator titled “Littering Concerns at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge” was a good one but a very sad reality of the mindset of some in today’s culture, who for some distorted thinking or certainly no thinking at all, believe they can throw their fast food wrappings, cans, and bottles out the window when they have no further use for them—and as the article wrote even other personal junk, like tires, etc.  These actions come from a culture only caring about themselves and no one else. A further sadness to the environment is seeing trash in the farm ditches and their food producing fields.  Whereas I doubt the farmers trash their own fields and ditches, I would think they would have concern enough to spend several hours each Spring to pick up such debris, for some of the trash actually emits toxins.   Trash tossed and trashed ignored left to lying, is a signature of a people who either don’t care about the gift of a beautiful and safe environment, are oblivious or think clean-up is beneath them—or all of the above.

PS Thanks to those who recently cleaned Hwy #10 north of Cty #16.

Tom Godlewski

Palmer Township

TO THE EDITOR:

Where is my Abatement? Tax Abatements are when the county or local government agrees to refund a portion of an entities property tax for a period of up to 15 yrs.  Sherburne Co. has over $3.3 million of abatements currently on the books and are still handing out more!!  What happened to paying their fair share?  What they don’t pay, we make up for in increased property taxes! Earlier this month, the County Board approved an abatement ($55k over 10 yrs.) for Beaudry Oil for a new garage where trucks can have their oil changed.  The County is subsidizing one business that is going to be taking customers from other garages in the area, which doesn’t sound quite fair.  I’m hoping that every lube shop in the county submits a request for abatement as they are just as important as Beaudry in, “retention of high-quality development in all parts of the County.” Then Tuesday the Board approved yet another for CMP Attachments LLC, ($35k over 12 yrs.), joining the ranks of Premier Marine ($1,451,625/15 yrs.), and Lupulin ($90,731/12 yrs.) Tell your commissioner no more favors at our expense! No More Abatements!

Bret R. Collier

Big Lake, MN 

TO THE EDITOR:

The one party control in MN is taking away our rights/freedoms. 1).  Tax levies for schools can be extended by the school boards for the same time and amount as the original vote without a new referendum vote; 2).  Local school boards will no longer control the subject matter for our students.  The MN Department of Education will mandate the content for all K-12 classes; 3).  Minnesota bans discrimination based on sexual orientation.  Pedophilia is no longer a sexual orientation; 4).  Red Flag rules can take away your gun; the only recourse is to go to court after the guns are confiscated; 5).  They are changing voting rules so they can harvest votes.  Anyone with a driver’s license with an address may be able to vote whether they are citizens or not; 6).  Parents cannot stop their children from having a sex change, and the children may be taken by authorities over parental objections. These are not my values, and I believe not most of yours either.  Call your state legislators and tell them your views are not what is happening in MN.

Barry VanBuren

Clearwater