RUSHVILLE —
Dear Editor:
I would also like to see the county grow, both in population and economically. However, the deck is stacked deeply against this.
Rush County has lost nearly 15 percent of its population since 1970. This was the time when the county implemented comprehensive zoning. Policies that are used to control the citizens and deter small businesses of Rush County by the Area Plan Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals, thus controlling economic and population growth in the county. These boards serve self interest groups that have no interest in growing Rush County. It is easier to own 10,000 hogs in a CAFO than to own a chicken in your backyard.
Our neighboring Franklin County has steady growth. Perhaps it would be better if we follow their lead by disbanding the self-interest boards and allowing its taxpayers each a single vote on policies.
The ECDC is equally at fault. Last year we learned of the ECDC’s “pay-to-play” policy. The ECDC and county government are working with Germany based Nordex to construct the Flatrock Windfarms. The tax abatements and tax credits necessary will make this venture profitable for Nordex and the large landowners who have leases for the turbines, but will drive out the small landowners and residents in the area. This will decrease the residential property values by making it an undesirable part of the county to live in. But it will be a good place to construct more CAFO installations. Yes, by default, it’s possible that the displaced residents will be forced to move to single lot subdivisions of “generous sized lots” along the municipal sewer lines, if they want to live in Rush County. Otherwise they still have the freedom to move to and live in other parts of the state, perhaps on lots larger than your “generously sized lots.” Without a viable population in the area, it will no longer be necessary to have a school in the northern part of the county. Perhaps this was in the vision of the key stakeholders: city and county government, the school corporation, the healthcare system, the Chamber of Commerce and obviously, the ECDC.
The policy makers cater to the international developers and the industrial livestock producers while abandoning and stifling the small landowners, small business owners, citizens and independent farmers in the county.
Sadly though, I believe the appointment of Mr. McCane, who is well connected politically and has a solid grasp of the interrelationship between all the major stakeholders and major players, will offer no change in the direction of the county.
John Saxon
Resident, taxpayer and voter
Opinion
In response to Barada’s recent column
- Opinion
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Our View: Seizure of AP phone records insult to independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
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Barada: 50 years ago and counting
My, does time fly! On June 22 next month, the Rushville High School Class of 1963 will celebrate its 50th anniversary. To be honest, 1963 doesn’t sound all that long ago, until one considers that, when we graduated in June 1963, the Class of 1913 was celebrating its 50th anniversary! Now, 1913 seemed like a long time ago when I was just 17 years old. The year 1913 was four years before the United States entered World War One.
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Barada: Local library should be a county facility
A noble effort is underway to renovate and expand the Rushville Public Library. It will not be an easy task. What will help, in my opinion, will be finally making the public library a county library.
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Ziemke: Back home again in Batesville
Following the hustle and bustle of Indianapolis, I must say that it has been nice to be home this past week. Session is an exciting process to be a part of, but for now, I am just going to enjoy the fact that I can be at my restaurant more often to talk to the folks I represent at the Statehouse.
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Mauzy: Weddings paint a larger picture of life
The marriage of my oldest daughter was this past weekend. With great fortune, weather remained wonderful for the outside venue. More than a stroke of good luck concerning the weather, the calm and positive energies of everyone in attendance would have overcome any adversity.
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Messer: Have we learned the lessons of 9/11?
September 11 was a devastating wake up call for every American. The events of that terrible day taught us that we are at war with violent Islamist extremists. If we let them, these jihadists are committed to exploiting our generosity and legal protections to further their murderous mania. The 9/11 Commission which investigated that tragedy concluded warning signs were everywhere, noting that “the system was blinking red.”
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Barada: 150th anniversary of the American Civil War beckons travellers this summer
Since we’re in the middle of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War; and based on the presumption that you’re interested in it at all, it’s just about time to start planning a trip to one of the two sites that marked the turning point in that conflict – Gettysburg, Pa., and Vicksburg, Miss.
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Zeta Tau Run for the Arts in Milroy
ZThe Zeta Taus would like to invite the community to join them in several activities in and around Milroy on Saturday, May 11. The annual Run for the Arts begins at 7:30 a.m. for runners and 8 a.m. for walkers. This event starts and ends at Milroy United Methodist Church parking lot. The cost to participate is $15 for adults and $10 for children. In
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Ward: Furnishing Rushville
I have fond memories of Rushville when it had three lumber/coal yards and four railroads went through town. The city owned the electric utility and the phone company was user-owned and operated.
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Wolfsie: Long day’s journey
I have never aerated my lawn. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever written the word “aerated” before. If I did I am sure I misspelled it. I think I accidentally went from liquefy to aerate while making a strawberry shake in our blender. That’s the extent of my experience. I guess I aerate my tire when it is flat, but I don’t think that word works with a 7-year-old car. If you own a 2013 Lexus, you aerate. Otherwise, you just put air in your tire.
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