The recent article about the proposed development on the corner of County Road 48 and Highway 371, just a few blocks from our home in Baxter, brought several issues to mind.
Just to set the stage, we live on the Mississippi and still are without city water and sewer, left to our own devices with a well and septic system near the river. We have been here for 10 years and for several of the early years were told that we were next to get water and sewer. Then 2008 happened and apparently now only new developments get water and sewer with their tax breaks.
Now we will have a new development, producing profits for developers and businesses and, I am sure, tax incentives, water and sewer as well as roads and other goodies from the city.
Meanwhile, a few blocks away are the ordinary folk who pay regular taxes, including a storm sewer tax, but have been relegated to the bottom of the list for service improvements unless they jump through hoops no one else had to.
I would assume that, if for no other reason than to avoid the embarrassment of this incredible favoritism, the city will include the rest of us in the area in the same improvement plan for water and sewer.
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We are not against development although I doubt whether it will improve the ambiance of our neighborhood and, although there will be big profits for a select few and construction jobs of short duration for some, the results will probably be a handful of minimum wage jobs and relatively free services for the foreseeable future.
Our hope is that you will at least include the ordinary folk who live in the area in the service upgrade. I think that is the least we deserve.
Bob Passi
Baxter
