To the editor:

Why speed up development clock?

March 14, 2007

Although born and raised in Minnesota, Washington County has been my home for 33 years. In that time, I think I have come to understand pretty well how the majority of its citizens feel about new government proposals for problem solving.

They reach for their pocket book to make sure it’s still there, and then they vote "no," if given the opportunity.

In Washington County, one needn’t explain the humor in the saying, "I’m from the government, and I’m here to help."

Folks have a healthy skepticism about government and I share it completely.

So when we are asked to vote "yes" on a proposal to allow the county to buy the rights to develop farmland (PDR) from private land owners, our first reaction is predictable. It will raise our taxes and it won’t work. I’ll vote "no!" But this may be one instance where our first reaction is wrong.

While this is a new concept in Wisconsin, it has been proven in 27 other states as an effective tool to preserve prime farmland, protect water recharge areas for private and public wells, and preserve the rural character of an area.

We know if we do nothing, all we need to do is look at Waukesha County to see the effect. Residential sprawl from border to border. Now they are trying to get water from Lake Michigan because their wells are inadequate.

Perhaps the best news with the PDR proposal is there will be no increase in taxes. It would be funded by the current county sales tax.

On April 3, I urge the voters of this county to take a good look at what a "no" vote will mean for our future.

If you decide that’s the way to go, why not just put your property up for sale and move to Waukesha County. That way you get urban sprawl and failing wells now rather than having to wait.

Tim Nixon, Town of West Bend