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Lincoln Daily News
601 Keokuk St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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To the editor:
In response to the article regarding
the bridge over Elkhart Hill, the village board of trustees of
Elkhart did have a brief conversation with Mr. Hickman last year
regarding road repairs in general, and the topic of the
repair-maintenance of the bridge was approached only briefly. I was
therefore surprised to read that the county was considering tearing
down the bridge and that it had become such a high priority item. I
would also like to correct any impression that the residents and
leadership of Elkhart are in agreement regarding the destruction of
this historic landmark. We most assuredly are not.
Having said that, let me state that
the village board of trustees insists that all projects must have a
way of being self-funded. We will work to find private funding or
money through grants, etc. through the historical society and the
office of tourism, to turn the bridge into a money-making tourist
attraction.
Last year hill tours, including the
bridge, were held throughout the summer and fall. Visitors from
throughout the county and indeed the state came to enjoy the
historic hill, bridge, cemetery and chapel. This summer the village
will celebrate its sesquicentennial, and the bridge will play an
important part in those celebrations.
[to top of second
column in this letter]
 |
 Elkhart officials are willing to
meet with any county committee to discuss options and to arrive at a
solution that will be acceptable to all -- a solution that will
include keeping the bridge intact. I would also like to point out
that spending tax money or increasing the burden on the taxpayers
for a project such as this needs a lot of investigation, not a
knee-jerk reaction. We will work with anyone in the county and in
the region to put our taxable funds to the best use possible in
these tight budgetary times.
In the meantime, come to Elkhart and
enjoy our historic community -- and the bridge.
Dayle Eldredge
Village President
(Posted Feb. 7, 2005)
Related article
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To the editor:
Citizens for Justice Inc. responds to
the recent story regarding Logan County getting an ethanol plant. Is
it really good for us?
Citizens for Justice is sounding an
alarm and asking all area investors (farmers) and the county board
to be slow to respond regarding directing any county moneys to this
project.
Why would any viable business in
today's financial and business marketplace need to offer 18-20
percent return on an investment unless it is a very high-risk
investment? In our opinion, if this is such a great deal, investors
should be running to them instead of the company running to the
farmers. Banks are paying only around 1.5 percent on money market
funds and no higher than around 3 percent for long-term CDs.
Any investment that sounds too good
to be true usually isn't a good investment. Because this offer is
restricted to area farmers, we are concerned even for their
financial health and perhaps their vulnerability because of their
recent hard times from farming.
As for our county board, we are not
so desperate that we need to hurry into this venture. That sounds
far too risky to invest county tax moneys. I am sure this company,
too, will be asking for tax abatements as well as other cash
incentives.
[to top of second
column in this letter]
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Because of the need for coal for
this plant, I'm sure they will ask the county to build an expensive
road costing several million dollars to handle the heavy weight. God
only knows what else they are going to be asking for.
No stable bank, in our opinion,
would loan money to most businesses in light of these facts. The
county is broke, has no money in reserve and would need to borrow
money to finance this project.
The county board is the Logan County
taxpayers' bank. Please use our funds wisely. We realize the county
board is made up of several farm owners and farmers. We also realize
this is a very delicate issue among farmers. However, board members
are still charged with the responsibility of representing all of
Logan County residents.
Lester Van Bibber
Citizens For Justice Inc.
(Posted Feb. 5, 2005) |
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To the editor:
With the Wal-Mart Supercenter in the
works, I felt the need to write a letter against it. I have been
talking about this for years, to the point of preaching about
Lincoln NOT needing this store.
If Wal-Mart would just hire a few
more workers or, better yet, give them more than just 28 hours a
week (since that is considered full time at Wal-Mart) and open up
more than just three lanes at a time, then the store they are at
would be fine.
The Supercenter will be a detriment
to Lincoln by way of closing businesses. I have talked to several
Kroger employees, and they know they will close if the Supercenter
comes to town. Not to mention that it will affect every single
retailer in our town.
It makes me wonder where our city
officials' priorities are. Are they taking into consideration the
possibilities of the closures of stores that are otherwise
better-paying jobs than Wal-Mart?
[to top of second
column in this letter] |
Wal-Mart has gotten the best of
Lincoln since coming to town. They have received tax breaks with
each building, and now we will have yet another empty building,
compliments of none other than Wal-Mart. They say they will help
find a business to fill the space, but let's face facts and remember
how long it took to find a business to fill their original building.
This Supercenter will not better the
lives of Lincoln citizens. It will only make those who have made
their livelihoods here strain to make it in an already strained
economy.
Soon I will be getting petitions
together to start the process of keeping this Supercenter out of
Lincoln. Please help me to stop them!
Josh Bruns
Lincoln
(Posted Feb. 5, 2005) |
