The good folks who live on Serpent Lake must be scratching their heads. After two years of volunteer work, in an effort to fight the expansion of invasive species in their lake, their petition for a lake improvement district was denied by the Crow Wing County Board. They had met every requirement the board had previously set before them and had secured the support of 64 percent of the property owners who saw the sense of paying $50 per year to protect their investment.
The county board vote to deny the petition was 3-2 with Commissioners Doug Houge, Paul Thiede and Phil Trusty voting with the majority.
Just a short time later, on Aug. 25, the county board approved renewing a lake improvement district for the Round Lake Association. The vote was 4-1 with Commissioner Doug Houge dissenting.
In each instance lakeshore owners showed the initiative to step in and work to solve a problem where government either wouldn't or couldn't help. Why was one group allowed to secure a funding source and the other group denied that opportunity?
Crow Wing County's lakes are among our most precious assets. They are, to a large degree, why our businesses are currently enjoying a lucrative holiday weekend. Clean lakes are also a legacy we would like to pass on to our children and grandchildren.
When private citizens are willing to take responsibility to protect a public asset - because it will benefit them and because it's the right thing to do - government should get out of the way.
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