To the editor:

Preserve best of city and country

March 7, 2007

As long-time Washington County residents, we have come to realize that our living environment is almost ideal. We have access to big-city amenities, we can find most everything we need somewhere in the county, and yet we still have open spaces to enjoy. We have, at least right now, the best of city and country.

We see the upcoming land preservation referendum as a down payment on maintaining what is most threatened in Washington County. Simply drive along any major highway in the county and see what is happening. We don’t believe we can or should "stop development," but we do believe we have to invest in protecting open space the same way we invest in developing housing and commercial development.

We plan to vote yes in the upcoming referendum, because the cost to each one of us is so small, but the price we will pay for not keeping land open for productive agriculture and just plain enjoyment is steep.

Joel and Laurie Kirsch, West Bend