Editorial

Date: June 8, 2006

Survey reveals answer

In February and March, 1,205 citizens answered their phones and gave their opinions in a survey on many important county issues: development, transportation infrastructure, housing needs and farmland preservation, to name a few. Washington County approved the Comprehensive Planning telephone survey and the results will provide essential information to the county and municipalities for developing future comprehensive plans.

Two questions put before the respondents were very important to the future of Washington County and pertain to the highly coveted natural resources: land and water.

One question on the issue of farm preservation received a resounding 84.8 percent vote for the need to preserve farmland. When asked would they support the purchase of development rights, 69.7 percent of the responders said yes.

These figures are closely aligned with the first vote taken by the County Board in March. The 17-11 victory for the Farmland Preservation program would be considered a landslide in a presidential election.

A democratic referendum was not an option, but the survey results are clear.

Call your district representative to express your views before the revote at the County Board meeting on Tuesday, June 13.

Another question queried the citizens about expanding bike and path trails and airport expansion as part of transportation infrastructure. Nearly half of the responders, 46.6 percent, gave expanding bike trails a high priority rating. When asked about airport expansion, the people spoke again, giving a 50 percent low priority rating and only 16.6 percent gave it a high priority rating.

Call your representative emphasizing concerns about the possible West Bend Municipal Airport expansion destroying 150 acres of wetlands. Citizens understand the value of land and water and are visionaries when it comes to protecting both. Bike trails allow everyone to enjoy natural resources, but the airport expansion will destroy valuable resources. Farmland is also a nonrenewable natural resource.

Marilyn John
Town of Trenton